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Construction CEOs & Management

Physical labor, stigma, and other factors put employees in the building industry at risk for substance use and overdose.

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Resources to Prevent Substance Use and Support Recovery

There are clear steps we can all take to reduce the impact of substance use and decrease the risks of overdoses. Access free resources in our updated digital toolkit.

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It's Good Business to Prevent Substance Use and Support Recovery

Employees are the most valuable assets for any business. In the building industry, your architects, engineers, laborers, operators, and foremen create the structures that your customers buy.

It's more important than ever to retain good staff. That means you have to support them through treatment and recovery from substance use disorders. When you create a workplace that focuses on prevention and supports people who are in recovery, it has a positive impact on the bottom line.

Access free resources that you can use to educate your workforce and raise awareness.

PowerPoint Template Fact SheetPoster for Employees

The Risks of Substance Use Affect All Building Industry Businesses

Substance use is a serious public health issue. All building industry CEOs, executives, and employees should be aware of the risks and take action steps to stay safe.

  • 9% of working adults in the U.S. have a substance use disorder
  • 14.3% of construction workers had a substance use disorder in the past year, second highest in any industry
  • 75% of adults with substance use disorders are in the U.S. workforce
  • 40.3 million people aged 12+ had substance use disorders in the past year

Sources

  1. National Safety Council
  2. The CBHSQ Report. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); April 2015. Retrieved from: https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/report_1959/ShortReport-1959.pdf
  3. Goplerud E, Hodge S, Benham T. A Substance Use Cost Calculator for US Employers With an Emphasis on Prescription Pain Medication Misuse. J Occup Environ Med. 2017;59(11):1063-1071. doi:10.1097/JOM.0000000000001157
  4. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2021). Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (HHS Publication No. PEP21-07-01-003, NSDUH Series H-56). Rockville, MD: Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/data/

Prevention and Recovery is a Good Business Strategy

There are valuable business reasons to prevent substance use, avoid the risks of overdose, and support employees in recovery.

  • Employees in recovery miss 14 fewer days of work each year
  • Each employee in recovery saves a company an average of $8,500 annually

Sources

  1. National Safety Council, 2020

Make Sure Employees Know Where to Find Help

Change the Script PSA

Watch and share this video to raise awareness for prevention best practices.

Video Resources

Watch these videos that highlight important messages about the building industry.

  • CPWR – Center for Construction Research and Training

    A video with building industry leaders on issues around mental health and substance use.

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

    Learn about the concept of Workplace Supported Recovery and how it supports prevention.

  • HUB International

    Detailed guidance on a range of legal, policy, and workplace issues around substance use in the building industry.

  • Opioids in the Construction Industry

    A powerful three-part video series with leaders and frontline employees in the building industry.

Evidence-Based Resources from Trusted Sources

In addition to the Change the Script toolkit materials, use these trusted sources to find more information on prevention and recovery.