It seems like everywhere you look in the metropolitan Atlanta area construction projects abound. However, the dramatic increase in construction projects unfortunately brings with it a corresponding high cost to many workers who are involved in this field. USA Today reported on November 5, 2019, that …“workers in the construction industry are most likely to use cocaine and misuse prescription opioids compared with other employees, according to a study published last week by the Center for Drug Use and HIV/HCV Research at the New York University College of Global Public Health.”

The article noted that the high injury and fatality rates is primarily attributed to falls, overexertion and workers who sustain devastating injuries after being struck by or caught in heavy machinery. The high injury rate due to labor intensive work very often leads to treatment or self-treatment with pain medication. “The study found that 12.5% of construction workers use marijuana, compared with 7.5% of all other workers. The analysis was based on surveys of 293,492 employees from 2005 to 2014.”

“Construction workers also had the second highest rate of marijuana usage after employees in service jobs. Investigators took workplace drug policies into consideration and found that stricter policies were linked with less marijuana use.”

Given the reports of high overdose mortality among construction workers, the study’s authors emphasized that more focus needs to be placed on implementing better training which would focus on injury prevention to prevent drug related risks and mortality among construction workers.

The lawyers at Sadow & Froy have decades of experience handling construction injury cases. We have seen firsthand the impact that opioid addiction can have on construction workers and clients who are severely injured working in other industries. Addiction not only affect injured workers. It also has a profound effect on their families. In order to avoid this, we are dedicated to ensuring that our clients are directed to the right experts who can deliver prompt, high quality medical treatment and pain management. Our goal is to ensure that our clients are given every opportunity to recover from their injuries addiction free so that they can continue to lead productive lives.