The Other Pandemic

By: Julian Toy H.S.C. Substance Abuse Professional
Member of The Ontario Association of Mental Health Professionals

Last week, I became aware of a study by The Ontario Drug Policy Research Network noting a spike in opioid related overdoses and deaths that have disproportionally affected the construction industry. According to the study, almost 30% of those that died worked in the industry.

Over the entire study period, overdose deaths for those under 35 increased 320%.

I looked at the data and conclusions from the study and have some observations and concrete suggestions for the ICI construction industry based on my analysis.

Fentanyl was associated with 87% of all the deaths from overdose during the pandemic period measured. Fentanyl, synthesized in 1959, is about 50 times stronger than heroin. This is the reason it is so easy to overdose taking it. Like most opioid drugs, it mainly kills by depressing the brain center that controls breathing.

When given for legitimate medical use, it is measured in micrograms, i.e., one millionth of a gram.

It is unlikely that a worker with a musculoskeletal injury will be prescribed Fentanyl unless they are in the hospital and either having surgery or immediately recovering from it. This is because of the drug’s high abuse potential and need for careful monitoring of the worker’s vital signs. It therefore follows that they are getting it from the street.

In my experience, social or recreational users may buy LSD, mushrooms, ecstasy or cannabis on the street, but I’ve never heard of one buying heroin, OxyContin, Percocet or Fentanyl just to take at a party on the weekend or at lunch with friends.

This study may indicate there are many more workers than previously thought on-site who have an ongoing substance abuse problem.

A great idea the study mentions is Narcan to prevent deaths. This drug, also known as naloxone, is an emergency treatment for opioid overdose. It blocks the receptors in the brain that opioids bind to and can reverse overdose effects quickly. 

The drug and the training to use it are free in Ontario. Many pharmacies offer the training after which you receive the drug. The training session is about 40 minutes. I strongly recommend that all jobsites have at least one Narcan kit and someone trained to use it available at all times. Larger sites may want two or three kits with people designated to use them.

Though the study makes other excellent recommendations to reduce overdose deaths, like safer spaces to use drugs and low-barrier methadone treatment, these harm reduction methods are incompatible with the Fit for Duty requirement on jobsites.

Further, methadone treatment may make workers ineligible to return to safety sensitive duties and is meant to be used for several years at least.

I believe the ultimate harm reduction is abstinence.

All companies I have worked for send workers to abstinence-based treatment centers because companies consider being clean and sober a requirement and condition for employment.

Companies need to expose all workers to people who are successfully in Recovery from substance abuse and alcoholism. This can inspire workers to get well through free community-based programs that don’t involve the company at all. This can be as simple as getting a guest speaker to come in.

In this day and age, every single supervisor on every jobsite should have proper substance abuse training to identify workers who have a problem earlier, allowing companies to intervene sooner.

Proactive methods adopted across the board are essential to reduce the grim statistics highlighted by this study.

If you have questions, need training or literature please contact Julian directly:

Direct Line: 905-866-7301
E-Mail: juliantoy@myaddictionexperts.com
Web: www.myaddictionexperts.com
Services: Fit for Duty/Drug and Alcohol policy development, Fit for Duty/Drug and Alcohol training, Employee Substance Abuse Assessments.
Preferred provider of Fit for Duty/Drug and Alcohol training Eastern Construction Company Ltd.