A fact that has already been specified, for several years, is that construction workers represent the labor group throughout the country and in New York where the concentration is concentrated. highest number of deaths due to overdose due to substance abuse. Now, with the opioid epidemic climbing ever higher and the presence of fentanyl expanding, the New York City municipal government is trying to “demolish” this deadly trend as much as possible.
This week sent an alert to the construction industry and announced a new strategy to build prevention plans in this sector.
In the face of this rising public health concern, the City’s Health and Buildings departments shared details about the potentially fatal dangers associated with substance abuse within an industry that continues to adding new positions in the ‘city of skyscrapers’.
Therefore, staff from both municipal agencies will visit construction sites to discuss the dangers of fentanyl, how to use naloxone to prevent a fatal overdose, and safety in those workplaces.
Much more information will be shared directly with workers about how they can stay safe, both on and off the construction site, regarding the National Substance Abuse Prevention Month.
“We know that A construction site injury is sometimes just the first chapter of a tragedy“With this partnership with the Department of Health, we are committed to promoting safety in these spaces,” he explained. Jimmy Oddocommissioner of the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB).
Training changes
Currently, the DOB requires that the workforce in this sector, on larger projects, take at least 40 hours of on-site safety training (SST) coursesincluding two hours teaching about the harms associated with chemical dependency and substance abuse problems.
This required course not only covers the dangers of being drunk while on a construction site, but also data on general narcotic use disorders.
Till the date, a total of 335,244 people working in the construction industry have taken the drug and alcohol awareness classas part of their mandatory OSH safety training requirement.
Now municipal agencies will carry out more outreach activities between contractors and construction safety professionalsasking them to include much more information about drugs and alcohol during their “toolbox talks.”
These mandatory pre-shift meetings are held at job sites throughout the city every day, providing each member of the construction team with a summary of the day’s work and possible safety concerns related to that work.
DOB will request that upcoming “toolbox talks” include information on overdose prevention, highlighting How many members of the construction industry are lost for this reason each year.
Hard data
According to the latest records to which the Department of Health has access, in the year In 2020, at least 269 construction workers died from overdosesthe most of any occupation included in that analysis.
Likewise, some statistics from the federal government prove that throughout the country, the most common occupation of fatalities linked to the use of narcotics, were in the classification of “Construction and Extraction”. This is a category defined by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics that includes operators of equipment, carpenters, electricians, earth drillers, mining machine operators and installers in general.
This federal agency reviewed data on fatal overdoses and obtained information available among people who were between 18 and 64 years old. This was consistent with all racial and ethnic groups.
Other, not updated, analyzes of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health have put into perspective that the construction industry has the second highest rate misuse of analgesics and opioidsafter the entertainment, recreation and food businesses.
“Messages about prevention and support should be available in our homes, communities and workplaces. “Data continues to show that this workforce has a higher fatal risk of dying from overdose.”said Dr. Ashwin Vasan, commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH).
An injury, a prescription, an addiction…
As has been described for years, one of the routes to this type of addiction originates in recurrent physical injuries. in this hard work. Many workers start requesting a prescription for an opioid medication, to help them return to work. And in some cases, it all ends in the consumption of illegal narcotics, such as heroin.
The risk is greater for those non-union workerslike day laborers, who do not have access to medical insurance, and in many cases, to any type of safety talks.
In the midst of this panorama, some activists from labor organizations confirm to El Diario that it has been observed that in the rising black market, many illegal fentanyl pills are precisely offered as powerful painkillersbut also as powerful stimulants to perform more.
“I knew of a very young recently arrived immigrant who ended up with a terrible shoulder injury from his demolition work. In the same work environment he was in, they recommended some of those illegal pills. Unfortunately he ended up dead.” the source said.
The numbers of this “deadly poison” in the streetsvalidated by some seizures: The Drug Enforcement Administration, the New York Division and the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor seized record quantities of counterfeit prescription pills laced with fentanyl and fentanyl powder during 2022.
The DEA’s New York Division, which covers the state of New York, has seized 1.9 million fake prescription pills laced with fentanyl (an increase of 152% from 2021) and 1,958 pounds of fentanyl, which is the equivalent of 72 million lethal doses.
There are resources for everyone
Beyond specific efforts for this job sector, DOHMH offers free programs so New Yorkers learn to recognize the signs of an overdose and respond with naloxone. Together with allied organizations, kits of this drug and fentanyl test strips have been made available to the public, at no cost, through Opioid Overdose Prevention Programs.
Naloxone is a life-saving medication that can reverse a opioid overdoses, including heroin, fentanyl, and prescription opioid medications.
As officially described by Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) “Naloxone quickly reverses an overdose by blocking the effects of opioids. It can restore a person’s normal breathing in 2 to 3 minuteswhose breathing slowed, or even stopped, as a result of an opioid overdose.”
Additionally, all state-licensed and City-supported syringe service programs offer harm reduction resources, including comprehensive services and help connecting you to treatment and other resources.
Rising crisis
Earlier this year, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene released data showing an unprecedented increase in fatal overdoses.
Fentanyl, an opioid between 50 and 100 times more powerful than morphinewas found in more than 80% of drug overdose deaths in New York City.
The presence of fentanyl in the unregulated drug supply has substantially increased the risk of overdose. This narcotic is predominantly found along with heroin, but has also been found in other substances, including illicitly manufactured pills, like those pushed to look like pain relievers or benzodiazepines.
“We are facing a deadly and devastating opioid crisis, which is why last month, our administration convened elected leaders, public health officials and law enforcement across the country to develop strategies to reduce and prevent opioid use. drugs. By educating construction workers, we are addressing part of this serious problem” concluded Mayor Eric Adams.
There are free resources:
More details and information on how to find a free naloxone kit are available at nyc.gov/naloxone.
Anyone you can call 988 to get free, confidential crisis counseling, support, information and referrals for mental health and substance use.
2023-11-03 08:12:00
#NYC
