A new economic analysis of the impact of substance use and related mental health issues in the construction industry has revealed that the annual cost to the B.C. construction industry from workers missing work and showing up at work hungover or dealing with withdrawal symptoms is $847 million.
The estimated annual loss of revenue to the Government of B.C. due to substance use and related mental health issues in the construction industry is $318 million.
Construction Industry Rehabilitation Plan (CIRP) commissioned the survey and analysis, which was conducted by Prioritize Consulting, with 683 construction industry respondents across the province.
According to CIRP executive director Vicky Waldron, the study was prompted by the fact that approximately half of overdose victims that were employed prior to death were employed in the trades, a figure significantly higher than in other industries. In 2022, the province recorded 2,272 toxic drug supply deaths.
“The cost is an immeasurable tragedy to workers and their families, but it is also financially damaging our industry and the provincial economy,” said Waldron. “We are all impacted by the tragic loss of lives from overdose deaths in the construction industry, and we recognize the immense toll that substance use and related mental health issues have on not only the productivity of workers but the well-being of workers. It’s a devastating situation that affects not only workers and their families but also our industry and the provincial economy. We must act quickly to address these challenges and find lasting solutions that prioritize the health and safety of our workforce.”
In response to the survey findings, CIRP has released a White Paper – “Construction Industry-Led Solution to the Overdose Epidemic” – that outlines the extent of the problem and possible solutions for both the industry and government to consider as the epidemic enters it’s eighth year.
The White Paper recommends supporting a prevention and treatment model developed by and for the construction industry, with 16 recommendations made.
“We believe that working together, construction industry employers, trade unions, and the provincial, federal and municipal governments can find lasting solutions that will give workers affected a way forward to recovery and create a stronger, more resilient and productive workforce,” said Waldron.
