International Overdose Awareness Day, held on the last day of August, is the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember those we have lost, acknowledge the grief of those left behind, and renew our commitment to end overdose and related harms. To help people take action for International Overdose Awareness Day, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) outlines facts about overdose and resources on awareness and recovery here.
The building trades are disproportionately affected by addiction and overdose. Construction workers are more likely to die of overdose than workers in any other occupation. This is in part due to the physical nature of the work — as workers are prescribed addictive medications to manage pain from injuries.
This Feb. 2025 bulletin from North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) and the Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) analyzed three initiatives designed to support workers — one of which was SMOHIT’s effort to expand naloxone training and distribution. As an opioid antagonist, naloxone rapidly reverses opioid overdose by knocking the opioids off their receptors in the brain, and has been the primary reason for a drop in opioid overdoses in the recent year. As the bulleting states, having naloxone around is the first step, but it’s also vital to increase preparedness with training. Workers who have an awareness of overdose signs and symptoms and have the confidence to respond in an emergency and administer naloxone will be better able to save lives.
SMOHIT is currently offering naloxone cabinets, complete with eight doses of naloxone, to every SMART union hall and training center. If your local does not yet have its naloxone cabinet, reach out to SMOHIT at 703-739-7130 to learn more about training and securing your naloxone.
Toolbox Talks:
Supporting those in recovery, or those who are considering seeking recovery resources, is a topic that fits perfectly with Overdose Awareness Day. See “What Are the Different Forms of Addiction Recovery Support?” on p. 121 and “Finding the Right Addiction Recovery Center” on p. 123. in the Toolbox Talks pdf, available on the SMOHIT website