Prescription opioid use and associated factors among US construction workers

Dong, Xiuwen Sue; Brooks, Raina D.; Cain, Chris Trahan

doi:10.1002/ajim.23158

Cited by 18 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…1 Journalists and researchers have documented that these tragedies are a particular concern for the construction industry. [2][3][4][5] Construction workers have the highest rate of opioid overdose deaths of all occupations. 2 While research to understand the pathways underlying these statistics has been limited, several contributing factors have been suggested, including high injury rates, workrelated musculoskeletal pain, provider prescribing behavior, drug testing, work schedules, cycles of unemployment, lack of access to treatment, work-related stress, and background drug use.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preventing Opioid-Related Harms in the Construction Industry

et al. 2021

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The construction sector has been hit hard by the opioid crisis. We describe CPWR—The Center for Construction Research and Training’s recent efforts to address the challenges of opioid use in the construction industry. With support and guidance from the National Association of Building Trade Unions Opioid Task Force, CPWR undertook three projects to promote prevention and best practices for struggling construction workers. The first project focused on recommendations for communications that reframe stigmatizing narratives into effective messages about prevention solutions. The second project refined and distributed a one-hour construction worker opioid hazard awareness training module. The third project assessed opportunities and barriers for the expansion and improvement of existing union peer support programs to support workers through treatment and recovery. Additional resources, such as opioid hazard tool box talks, to help reverse the impact on the sector are also described.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preventing Opioid-Related Harms in the Construction Industry

et al. 2021

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“…Previous research has demonstrated that occupational injuries are a likely risk factor for drug overdose deaths 4,9,12–18 . In Massachusetts, among the four occupations with significant increases in drug overdose deaths, two (healthcare support and building and grounds cleaning) had increases in the rate of occupational injuries and illnesses in 2020 compared with previous years 52 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…51 Previous research has demonstrated that occupational injuries are a likely risk factor for drug overdose deaths. 4,9,[12][13][14][15][16][17][18] In Massachusetts, among the four occupations with significant increases in drug overdose deaths, two (healthcare support and building and grounds cleaning) had increases in the rate of occupational injuries and illnesses in 2020 compared with previous years. 52 It should be noted that some of these increases may be driven by increases in occupational illnesses (primarily COVID-19), which contributed to increases in occupational injuries and illnesses rates in 2020.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in drug poisoning mortality before and after the COVID‐19 pandemic by occupation in Massachusetts

Hawkins

Phan

2022

American J Industrial Med

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Background: Incidence of drug poisoning deaths has increased during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Previous research has established that risks differ for drug poisoning death according to occupation, and that workers also have a different risk for exposure to and death from COVID-19. This study sought to determine whether workers in certain occupations had drug poisoning mortality rates that increased in 2020 (the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic) compared to the average mortality rate for workers in those occupations during the previous 3 years. Methods: Death certificates of Massachusetts residents who died from drug poisonings in 2017-2020 were obtained. Average mortality rates of drug poisoning according to occupation during the 2017-2019 period were compared to mortality rates in 2020. Results: Between the 2017-2019 period and 2020, mortality rates of drug poisoning increased significantly for workers in three occupational groups: food preparation and serving; healthcare support; and transportation and material moving. In these occupations, most of the increases in 2020 compared to 2017-2019 occurred in months after COVID-19 pandemic cases and deaths increased in Massachusetts. Conclusion: Mortality rates from drug poisonings increased substantially in several occupations in 2020 compared to previous years. Further research should examine the role of occupational factors in this increase in drug poisoning mortality rates during the COVID-19 pandemic. Particular attention should be given to determine the role that exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, work stress, and financial stress due to job insecurity played in these increases.

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“…In addition, the average annual prevalence of OUD in this sample of 0.8% is likely underestimated since only workers who seek medical treatment could receive a diagnosis and some workers may seek treatment for health conditions unrelated to OUD so fail to receive a diagnosis for OUD 47 . Past studies suggest that other reasons for the underestimation of OUD diagnosis among construction workers is due to failure to seek treatment from lack of health insurance, 48 suffering from mental distress so avoid seeking treatment, 49 and low job security so fear of taking time off work 50‐52 . Despite this limitation, health claims provide a means to show associations between prescription opioids and development of OUD among those workers who seek treatment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predictors of long‐term opioid use and opioid use disorder among construction workers: Analysis of claims data

Buckner‐Petty¹,

Evanoff²,

Gage³

2020

American J Industrial Med

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Background: Construction workers have high rates of work-related musculoskeletal disorders, which lead to frequent opioid use and opioid use disorder (OUD). This paper quantified the incidence of opioid use and OUD among construction workers with and without musculoskeletal disorders. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study using union health claims from January 2015 to June 2018 from 19,909 construction workers. Claims for diagnoses of chronic musculoskeletal disorders, acute musculoskeletal injuries, musculoskeletal surgery, and other conditions were linked to new opioid prescriptions. We examined the effects of high doses (≥50 morphine mg equivalents per day), large supply (more than 7 days per fill), long-term opioid use (60 or more days supplied within a calendar quarter), and musculoskeletal disorders, on the odds of a future OUD. Results: There were high rates (42.8% per year) of chronic musculoskeletal disorders among workers, of whom 24.1% received new opioid prescriptions and 6.3% received long-term opioid prescriptions per year. Workers receiving opioids for chronic musculoskeletal disorders had the highest odds of future OUD: 4.71 (95% confidence interval 3.09-7.37); workers prescribed long-term opioids in any calendar quarter had a nearly 10-fold odds of developing an OUD. Conclusions: Among construction workers, opioids initiated for musculoskeletal pain were strongly associated with incident long-term opioid use and OUD. Musculoskeletal pain from physically demanding work is likely one driver of the opioid epidemic in occupations like construction. Prevention of work injuries and alternative pain management are needed for workers at risk for musculoskeletal injuries.

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Prescription opioid use and associated factors among US construction workers

Cited by 18 publications

References 49 publications

Preventing Opioid-Related Harms in the Construction Industry

Preventing Opioid-Related Harms in the Construction Industry

Changes in drug poisoning mortality before and after the COVID‐19 pandemic by occupation in Massachusetts

Predictors of long‐term opioid use and opioid use disorder among construction workers: Analysis of claims data

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