Overdose Prevention Update
BY Cal Beyer
How the construction industry can keep overdose prevention progress on the right track
There’s real progress to acknowledge. Overdose deaths among construction workers are going down. According to The Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) and North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU), drug-related overdose deaths among construction workers ages 16-64 dropped 28.8% from 2023 to 2024, falling from 15,900 to 11,300. The rate declined from 135.0 to 94.8 per 100,000 workers.
That kind of decrease matters. It reflects lives saved and families kept whole. But the same report points to something important that should shape how the industry responds next: The reduction in construction mirrors the broader decline in overdose deaths across the United States population. Construction is improving, but it is largely keeping pace rather than pulling ahead.
That is both encouraging and a reality check.
Progress like this can be misread. When numbers start to improve, it is tempting to assume the problem is easing on its own or that current efforts are enough. In reality, the opposite is true. This drop is happening because of sustained, coordinated action. If that effort slows, the progress can stall or reverse.
The recent decline likely reflects several factors working together. Increased education around opioid risks has helped workers and employers better understand how misuse can begin and escalate. Prescribing practices have shifted, with fewer opioids being issued unnecessarily. Based on available data, this is more evident in workers’ compensation than in group health benefits programs. Treatment and recovery supports have become more visible and more accessible. Stigma, while still present, has started to loosen its grip, making it easier for people to speak up and seek help.
The latest data offers something the construction industry has not had enough of in this space: evidence that targeted efforts are working.
One of the most tangible changes has been the growing availability of naloxone, often known by the brand name Narcan.
Not long ago, the idea of stocking naloxone on a job site was uncommon. Some employers hesitated due to liability concerns or uncertainty about how it would be perceived. That mindset is changing. More organizations are treating naloxone as a standard safety measure, similar to first aid supplies or automated external defibrillators. These organizations approach naloxone from the lens of emergency preparedness and safety, meaning being prepared for every type of emergency.
This shift is grounded in a simple reality. Overdoses can happen anywhere, including on job sites, in company vehicles or during breaks. When they happen, timing is critical. Naloxone can reverse an opioid overdose within minutes and restore breathing. Having it available and having workers trained to use it can be the difference between life and death.
The increased presence of naloxone in the construction industry is not just symbolic; it is a direct contributor to the decline in fatalities. It also reflects a broader cultural shift toward preparedness and responsibility rather than avoidance.
At the same time, the data makes clear that there is still a long way to go. Even after the decline, the overdose death rate in construction remains significantly high at 94.8 per 100,000 workers. This is not a level the industry can accept as stable or safe.
The current moment is a test of how the industry interprets success. If the decline is seen as a reason to scale back, progress will likely stall. If it is seen as proof that prevention strategies work, it becomes a foundation to build on.
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Doubling down means focusing on what is already working and expanding it across more workplaces, more job sites and more communities:
1. Make naloxone standard, not optional
Every job site, company vehicle and office should have naloxone readily available. Just as important, workers need to be trained and feel confident using it in an emergency.
2. Keep education consistent and practical
One-time trainings are not enough. Ongoing conversations about opioid risks and safety practices, mental health and job site realities help reinforce awareness and keep safety top of mind.
3. Support recovery as part of workforce strategy
Recovery-friendly workplaces are not just supportive, they are effective. When workers have access to treatment and feel supported, retention improves and risk decreases.
4. Reduce stigma through action, not just messaging
Policies, leadership behavior and everyday language all shape workplace culture. When stigma is reduced, workers are more likely to seek help early.
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5. Strengthen clear pathways to care
Employee Assistance Programs, union supports, peer recovery specialists and community partnerships all need to be visible, accessible, and easy to navigate.
This continued push is exactly why organizations like SAFE Project remain focused on expanding education, reducing stigma and helping workplaces build practical overdose prevention and recovery support strategies. Through workplace initiatives, naloxone education, community partnerships and accessible resources, SAFE Project works to help employers move from awareness to action, because progress only continues when prevention efforts do, too.
The latest data offers something the construction industry has not had enough of in this space: evidence that targeted efforts are working. The combination of education, internal policy changes, cultural shifts and tools like naloxone is producing measurable results.
That is not a signal to slow down. It is a signal to push further and harder. The goal is not just to keep pace with national trends. It is to lead them downward.
Cal Beyer, CWP, NAC, is the senior director of SAFE Workplaces for national nonprofit SAFE Project. Beyer has more than 30 years of experience as a risk management and safety professional. He has been dedicated to construction and manufacturing since 1996 and has been a longtime advocate for workplace mental health and well-being. Reach Beyer at cal@safeproject.us