State leaders are bringing awareness to substance abuse in the construction industry.
Jen Smith is the state secretary for the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs.
“It is often not talked about, but studies have shown, compared to other occupations, employees in the construction field have higher rates of overdose deaths,” Smith said.
Smith cited a study that showed 15 percent of workers who were prescribed opioids became long-time users.
She says that construction workers are more prone to injuries that can result in an opioid prescription. The study encouraged more workplace safety protocols to help avoid the injuries in the first place.
