From 2015 to 2016, drug overdose deaths rose 19%, according to preliminary data compiled by the New York Times. In the construction industry, the rate of substance abuse and alcohol use disorders is 15%, nearly twice the national average, according to an independent research institution at the University of Chicago. At our sister publication BUILDER, senior associate editor Brian Croce delves into the opioid epidemic with an anecdote from a West Virginia construction professional who is not only responsible for his business, but also helping his son avoid opioids and heroin.
“The impact of increasing numbers of Americans addicted to painkillers and other drugs has resulted in lower labor force participation, particularly among Americans who have less than a four-year college degree,” said Robert Dietz, chief economist for the NAHB. “This makes recruiting more workers into the trades that much harder.”