HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania is expanding its statewide campaign to reduce the stigma surrounding substance use disorder by partnering with the Keystone Contractors Association, a move aimed at reaching an industry disproportionately affected by opioid misuse and overdose as construction workers face elevated risks tied to workplace injuries and pain management.
The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) announced Wednesday that the construction trade organization has joined the Shapiro administration’s Life Unites Us campaign, a statewide initiative that uses social media and community partnerships to encourage recovery, combat stigma and connect Pennsylvanians with support services.
The partnership comes as research continues to show construction workers are particularly vulnerable to opioid use disorder. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, construction workers prescribed opioids for pain face a higher risk of long-term opioid use and developing opioid use disorder. The department noted that 15% of workers prescribed opioids became long-term users, while long-term users were nearly 10 times more likely to develop opioid use disorder.
DDAP Deputy Secretary Sarah Boateng said expanding the campaign into the construction industry allows the department to engage workers in environments where trusted voices can encourage individuals to seek help.
“By adding an industry partner that plays a large role in building our Commonwealth while also facing unique challenges associated with opioid use disorder, we are expanding the reach of the Shapiro Administration’s campaign into an industry where trusted voices matter and a supportive environment makes a difference,” Boateng said.
The Keystone Contractors Association represents approximately 100 construction companies across Pennsylvania, including general contractors, construction managers, specialty contractors, roofers and masons. Since Gov. Josh Shapiro took office, the association has distributed hundreds of doses of naloxone to active construction sites through DDAP’s Overdose Prevention Program.
KCA Executive Director Jon O’Brien said the organization views education, overdose prevention and recovery-friendly workplaces as essential to addressing the industry’s ongoing challenges with substance use.
“At the Keystone Contractors Association, we feel it is our responsibility to provide resources and education to construction employers to promote safer pain management, reduce stigma, equip job sites with naloxone, and foster recovery friendly job sites – ultimately saving lives in an industry that has been hit hard by the opioid epidemic,” O’Brien said.
The announcement also featured two individuals in recovery who previously worked in Philadelphia’s construction industry and now help others through careers in addiction services. Randy Winder, a substance use navigator at the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Addiction Medicine and Policy, said the campaign provides an outlet for people with lived experience to remind workers that recovery is possible. Brad Meck, a clinical research coordinator at the center, described his journey from losing his career and possessions while struggling with addiction to becoming a certified recovery specialist.
State Sen. John I. Kane, a former construction trades worker who is in recovery from substance use disorder, also participated in Wednesday’s event. Kane has led the effort to designate the third week of July as Construction Opioid Awareness Week in Pennsylvania to encourage awareness of opioid misuse within the industry.
Launched through a partnership between DDAP, Penn State Harrisburg’s Douglas W. Pollock Center for Addiction Outreach and Research and national public health organizations, Life Unites Us reached more than 3 million Pennsylvanians during its fifth year through more than 10 million social media impressions, according to the department. Survey data cited by DDAP indicates exposure to the campaign increased awareness of opioid use disorder stigma, improved willingness to discuss the issue, encouraged access to naloxone and fostered more positive attitudes toward medication-assisted treatment.
The Keystone Contractors Association becomes the 221st organization to join the Life Unites Us network, which includes county drug and alcohol offices, treatment providers, recovery organizations and higher education institutions that promote substance use disorder education and recovery resources statewide. Additional information about the initiative is available at LifeUnitesUs.com.
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