NEWSSCAPE
Toolkit helps address substance abuse in the trades
The overdose crisis is one of the most serious public health crises Canada has ever faced, according to a statement by the Honourable Ya’ara Saks, minister of mental health and addictions and associate minister of health on the overdose crisis. Addiction and overdoses impact the trades more than any other profession. The statement said that between January 2016 and June 2024, “there have been 44,592 opioid-related deaths. Despite ongoing efforts at all levels of government and with partners across the country, 8,049 people lost their lives to opioids in 2023. That's an average of 22 people dying each day.” Since 2016, 72 per cent of accidental apparent opioid toxicity deaths were male, and 30 to 50 per cent worked in trades at the time of their death. Thirty-one per cent were between the ages of 30 to 39 years. Physically demanding jobs, such as landscape construction, can come with pain, injury and stress. This can lead to using substances like drugs or alcohol to cope. The stigma they face is also great, as men are less likely to talk about
their substance use or mental health challenges for fear of being judged or penalized. The crisis is driven by a dangerous illegal synthetic drug supply that is unpredictable and increasingly toxic. Powerful drugs like fentanyl, and other emerging synthetic opioids are flooding the illegal drug supply and resulting in an increase in harms and deaths. Health Canada has re-launched an updated Ease the Burden campaign to offer free resources for men struggling with substance use and to share the message that "it takes strength to ask for help." The campaign also includes information for employers to help start a conversation about substance use and addiction in the workplace. The goal is to create a space where men feel safe and supported to reach out for help if they are struggling with substance use and addiction, to reduce stigma around getting help, and to ultimately save lives. To learn more and access available resources for workers, employers and others in the trades, please visit Canada.ca/Ease-The-Burden.
12 | LANDSCAPE TRADES
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