The National Association of Home Builders rolled out new resources, "Opioids in the Home Building Industry: Making it Your Business," to help residential construction companies address the opioid crisis.
People who work in construction are significantly more likely to become addicted to opioids, like prescription painkillers, than other workers in the general population and are six times more likely to die as a result of overdose. In addition to the health and well-being of the employee, the impact on a business can be significant and includes loss of productivity, healthcare expenses, absenteeism, turnover and much more.
"Opioid addiction is our nation's leading public health crisis, and it affects people across all socioeconomic classes, races, genders and jobs, and the home building industry is no exception," says Greg Ugalde, NAHB chairman .
The resources are the culmination of a year-long effort between NAHB senior leaders, local home builder association leaders, members, staff and Advocates for Human Potential Inc., who helped develop the materials. The initiative was funded through a grant from the Job-Site Safety Institute.
The materials, which are available to members and non-members, address intervention points across the spectrum of prevention, treatment, recovery and return-to-work.
Resources include:
- An executive training package, including a webinar and related downloadable materials, that explains why action is needed in the home building industry
- A supervisor training package about interventions in the workplace that includes a podcast and comprehensive written guidance
- A supervisor training package about preventing opioid misuse in home building
- Resources about pain management alternatives to opioids
- Fact sheets that explain the risks associated with taking opioids, identifying nonmedical opioids like heroin, and identifying medical opioids
- A comprehensive state-by-state guide of resources available locally
