Pennsylvania’s construction industry is joining a statewide effort against opioid addiction stigma, a move that puts a spotlight on one of the trades hardest hit by opioid misuse and overdose.
The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs announced this week that the Keystone Contractors Association has joined the Shapiro administration’s Life Unites Us campaign, which works to reduce stigma around substance use disorder rather than reinforce it.
Why Construction Workers Face Higher Opioid Addiction Risk
Construction work carries a higher risk of on-the-job injury, and injury often means a prescription for pain medication.
A CDC study cited in the state’s announcement found that construction workers prescribed opioids for pain had a higher risk of long-term opioid use and of developing opioid use disorder than workers in many other fields.
Combined with physically demanding labor and a workplace culture that has historically discouraged talking about pain or substance use, construction has become one of the industries most affected by Pennsylvania’s opioid crisis, and one where stigma has kept many workers from seeking help.
State Senator John Kane, who worked in the construction trades before entering politics and is himself in recovery from a substance use disorder, has led the push to designate the third week of July as Construction Opioid Awareness Week in Pennsylvania.
What the Life Unites Us Campaign Does
Life Unites Us is a statewide initiative that uses social media and community partnerships to reduce stigma around substance use disorder and connect Pennsylvanians with support services.
Launched through a partnership between the state’s Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, Penn State Harrisburg’s Douglas W. Pollock Center for Addiction Outreach and Research, and national public health organizations, the campaign reached more than 3 million Pennsylvanians during its fifth year through over 10 million social media impressions.
Survey data cited by the state found that exposure to the campaign increased awareness of opioid use disorder stigma, improved people’s willingness to discuss the issue, encouraged access to naloxone, and fostered more positive attitudes toward medication-assisted treatment.
The Keystone Contractors Association is now the 221st organization to join the Life Unites Us network, alongside county drug and alcohol offices, treatment providers, recovery organizations, and higher education institutions.
Jon O’Brien, the Keystone Contractors Association’s executive director, said the group sees it as a responsibility to provide resources and education to construction employers, promote safer pain management, equip job sites with naloxone, and build recovery-friendly workplaces.
Signs of Opioid Addiction to Watch For
Opioid use disorder can develop even when someone starts with a legitimate prescription for a workplace injury.
Warning signs include needing higher doses to manage the same pain, using medication for longer than prescribed, withdrawal symptoms like sweating or anxiety between doses, and continuing use despite it causing problems at work or home.
Finding Addiction Treatment in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania workers concerned about their own opioid use, or that of a coworker or family member, have several starting points.
Pennsylvania now maintains hundreds of year-round drug take-back boxes at police stations and pharmacies statewide for safely disposing of unused medication, reducing the supply available for misuse.
Naloxone is also more widely available at participating job sites and community locations through programs like this one.
Addictions.com lists verified addiction treatment centers across Pennsylvania, including options for opioid use disorder treatment and medication-assisted treatment.
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