Addiction in the Construction Industry

Table of Contents

As per the Construction Financial Management Association, CFMA, the construction industry employs more than 7.6 million people in the U.S. Long hours, hard work and increased odds for injury can all contribute to two other challenges the construction industry is working hard to address: substance abuse and mental health.

The statistics on drug and alcohol abuse in the construction industry in America are alarming:

  • Fifth in illicit drug use at 11.6%
  • Second in both heavy drinking (16.5%) and substance use disorders (14.3%)
  • First in marijuana use (60.3%), pain reliever abuse (22.6%) and heroin use (4.4%)

Opioid use and abuse have been an especially challenging problem in construction. High injury rates mean workers are often prescribed opioids for pain relief. Research shows that around 15% of individuals taking these drugs become long-term users, increasing their chances of developing an addiction by more than 10 times.

A 2020 study noted that 83% of construction workers experienced a mental health issue, while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that men working in construction have one of the highest suicide rates as compared to all other industries. The rate of suicide in construction is about four times higher than the general population.

What contributes to high rates of drug & alcohol abuse in the construction industry?

Physical Demands: The labour-intensive nature of construction work often leads to injuries and chronic pain, increasing the risk of opioid use

Work Environment: Long hours, irregular schedules, and high-stress conditions contribute to substance abuse

Demographics: Over 90% of construction workers are male, a demographic more prone to substance abuse

Industry Culture: The “work hard, play hard” mentality and after-work socializing often involve alcohol consumption

The consequences of high drug and alcohol dependence:

Construction workers have the highest mortality rates for drug overdose deaths and prescription opioid-related overdose deaths

Substance abuse significantly increases the risk of workplace accidents and injuries

Productivity and job retention are negatively impacted by substance abuse issues

 

Addressing substance abuse in the construction industry requires a multi-faceted approach, including prevention programs, improved access to treatment, and changes in workplace culture to prioritize mental health and well-being. On the treatment front, the Center for Network Therapy is at the forefront of vastly increasing access to treatment by making Outpatient Detox available for all substances, alcohol, opiates, marijuana, anaesthetics (ketamine), benzos (Klonopin, Xanax, valium) and stimulants (Adderall, Vyvanse). Now CDL drivers don’t have to leave the comfort of their homes to access addiction treatment. We address alcohol withdrawal, opiate withdrawal, benzo withdrawal, anaesthetic withdrawal, and stimulant withdrawal on an outpatient basis.

Recovery Centre for Network Therapy

For Free Addiction Treatment With Insurance!

Frequently Asked Questions on Alcohol withdrawal

For Free Addiction Treatment With Insurance!

When does alcohol withdrawal start?
It differs from one individual to the other. The more heavily you drink alcohol, the more likely you are to be in dire need for alcohol withdrawal.

When an individual has been consuming alcohol heavily for weeks, months, or years, he or she may experience physical and mental issues when they try to stop drinking alcohol. The combination of these uncomfortable effects is called alcohol withdrawal. Symptoms can range from mild to dangerous, depending on the length of use and amount of use.
An individual who has been consuming alcohol for a long period of time, but in limited quantities of irregularly, is unlikely to experience withdrawal symptoms if they stop drinking alcohol. If an individual has experienced alcohol withdrawal once in their lifetime, they are more likely to experience it again when they stop drinking alcohol.

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms such as tremors can last anywhere between three days to several weeks.
The symptoms of alcohol withdrawal tend to start within 6 to 24 hours after the person’s last drink of alcohol.
It depends on how long it takes your body to flush every trace of alcohol. 

Alcohol is a “downer,” as it depresses an individual’s central nervous system. The functioning of the brain slows and it changes the way in which messages are sent back and forth from the brain.
Over time, the central nervous system of the person abusing alcohol adapts to having alcohol in the system all the time. The system works harder to keep the brain in a more awake state and the nerves communicating with one another.
When the individual abusing alcohol stops alcohol use abruptly, their brain stays in high gear and causes alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

In-network with:

* If the QualCare logo is on the insurance card

Follow us @Instagram