Wyoming is putting a life-saving overdose reversal drug directly onto construction job sites, and the results are already reaching hundreds of organizations across the state.
Expanded naloxone access in Wyoming is giving roofers and their coworkers a fighting chance when opioid overdose strikes on the job.
For Wyoming workers and their families, here is what the program does, why it matters, and what to do if opioid addiction has already taken hold.
Why Wyoming Construction Workers Need Naloxone on the Job
The case for workplace naloxone access in Wyoming is built on hard data. State vital statistics show that between 2017 and 2022, nearly 15% of all drug overdose deaths in Wyoming involved people employed in the construction industry.
That concentration of overdose deaths in a single workforce is what drove the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) to act.
After reviewing occupational safety and injury reports with The Naloxone Project, officials confirmed a strong connection between physically demanding jobs and opioid-related risks.
Roofers at small-to-medium-sized businesses were identified as a priority group because of significantly higher rates of both acute and chronic injury compared to other workers.
Repeated injuries often lead to prescription painkiller use, which can develop into opioid dependence over time, sometimes without the worker or their family recognizing the signs.
What Naloxone Is and How It Works
Naloxone, sold under the brand name Narcan, is a medication that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose. It can be administered as a nasal spray or injection, requires no medical training to use, and begins working within minutes.
It is safe for bystanders to administer and has no effect on people who have not taken opioids.
When a worker overdoses on a job site, every minute matters. Having naloxone within arm’s reach, rather than waiting for emergency services, can be the difference between life and death.
209 Wyoming Organizations Now Stocking Naloxone
The scale of Wyoming’s naloxone distribution effort is significant. In 2025, the first year of the initiative, 209 construction organizations ordered naloxone at no cost for the first time.
That means hundreds of Wyoming job sites now have overdose reversal medication on hand that did not before.
The Wyoming OD2A team credited their approach of framing naloxone as a standard occupational safety tool, on par with a hard hat or a harness, with significantly reducing stigma among both employers and employees.
That reframe is meaningful. Employers who might have hesitated to stock naloxone out of concern it would stigmatize their workforce instead began treating it the way they treat any other first-aid supply.
Workers who might have felt embarrassed to carry it are more likely to keep it accessible when it is presented as routine workplace preparedness.
Signs of Opioid Addiction to Watch For
Naloxone treats an overdose in the moment, but it does not treat the underlying opioid addiction. Wyoming workers and their families should know the warning signs so they can seek help before an overdose occurs.
Common signs of opioid addiction include:
- Using prescription painkillers more frequently or in larger amounts than prescribed
- Being unable to stop or reduce use despite wanting to
- Continuing to use after an injury has healed
- Physical withdrawal symptoms when not using
- Withdrawing from family, friends or responsibilities at work
If these signs of addiction sound familiar, professional treatment is available in Wyoming.
Finding Opioid Addiction Treatment Centers in Wyoming
Naloxone access in Wyoming is saving lives in emergencies, but recovery requires more than overdose reversal. Opioid addiction is a treatable medical condition, and Wyoming residents have access to a range of evidence-based options.
Treatment options typically include:
- Medical detox to manage withdrawal symptoms safely
- Inpatient rehab for intensive, around-the-clock care
- Outpatient programs for workers who need to maintain their schedule
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) using buprenorphine or methadone to reduce cravings and support long-term recovery
Getting help is the same practical, safety-first decision Wyoming employers are making when they stock naloxone on the job site, it protects lives.
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