Men in trades: the opioid overdose crisis in Canada

Impacts of substance use on men in trades, ways to reduce stigma and substance use harms, and how to get help with substance use.

On this page

• Men in trades and substance use
• Get help
• Ease the burden of substance use
• Harms of stigma
• Risks of opioids and how to save a life
• Employer’s Communication toolkit
• Chronic pain and substance use

Men in trades and substance use

Men experience the highest rates of opioid overdoses in Canada.^{Footnote 1} Trades workers are more impacted by substance use and addiction than other fields of work.

Text description

This image shows how much men in trades have been impacted by substance use. It states that:

• Since 2016, around 3 out of 4 opioids related deaths were men
• 30 to 50 % of those employed worked in trades at the time of their death

There are many reasons why men who work in trades are more affected by overdoses and substance-related harms.

• Trades work is physically demanding and stressful. It is common for trades workers to want to celebrate or relax after work by using substances like drugs and alcohol.
• Since injury and pain are common in the trades, workers often use alcohol or other substances to cope with pain. Pain relief is one way people get introduced to opioids.
• Men are often expected to not talk about their substance use or mental health problems. This makes them less likely to ask for help when they need it.

Learn more about substance use.

Get help with substance use

It takes strength to ask for help. Getting support could make the difference for you and those around you.

Resources available

• Get help with substance use
• Wellness Together Canada

Ease the burden of substance use

Harms of stigma

People use drugs for many different reasons, but no one chooses an addiction. Addiction affects the brain, making it hard to stop using drugs, even when it's hurting you or people in your life. Recovery is possible but it looks different for everyone.

Even though we know addiction is not a choice, society stigmatizes people struggling with substance use. This stigma can prevent people from asking for help because:

• they do not want to damage their reputation
• they do not want to be judged
• they do not want to get in trouble professionally or with the law

Stigma and judgement can cause people to hide their drug use and use drugs alone. Since the majority of overdoses in Canada happen when people are alone, reducing stigma can actually save lives.

Facts about stigma

There's a good chance that someone you know is struggling with their substance use and you may have no idea. There are steps we can take to support our friends and family members and reduce stigma.

Additional resources

• Stigma around drug use
• Explore real stories and how stigma impacts people who use drugs
• Building Hope video series: Real life stories of Substance Use in the Trades

Know the risks and save a life

When using drugs, it's important to know the risks and how to reduce them.

When taking illegal drugs, it's impossible to know exactly what you are taking. Common illegal drugs are being increasingly contaminated with strong opioids like fentanyl. You can't see, taste or smell fentanyl, and a few grains can be enough to kill the average person. Overdoses are happening to people who didn't realize they took an opioid.

To lower your risks and save a life:

• recognise the signs of an opioid overdose
• know what to do: Naloxone can save a life
• don't take more than one substance at a time
• don't use drugs alone, because if an overdose occurs no one will be there
• learn why the Good Samaritan law can protect you if you call 9-1-1, even if you have taken drugs or have some on you
• learn how to talk to your friends and family about drug use

Resources about using substances:

• Low-risk alcohol drinking guidelines
• Canada's lower-risk cannabis use guidelines
• Smoking, vaping and tobacco
• Vaping and quitting smoking
• Quit smoking
• Health effects of cannabis
• Addiction to cannabis

Employer’s Communication Toolkit

A collection of communication products that employers can use to talk to their employees about substance use and addiction.

Communications toolkit for employers of men in trades

Chronic pain and substance use

Chronic pain is pain that lasts longer than three months. Trades workers often experience chronic pain, and this can lead to the use of substances. There are many reasons why workers will use pain medications like opioids more often:

• to avoid the stigma associated with pain
• the pressure to get back to work
• a lack of resources to help prevent and manage chronic pain can lead to using pain medication

Resources for chronic pain and addiction

• Talking to your health care provider about opioids: A plain language resource available in both French and English about talking to your healthcare provider about opioids.
• Chronic pain: A brief and simple resource about chronic pain definitions, discrimination stigma, treatments and therapies.
• About chronic pain: Resources to explain chronic pain, treating pain and seeking care.
• Opioids: When you need them and when you don't: This resource provides information on opioids, including when you need them and when you don't.
• Managing pain at work (available in French only): A resource to help you manage pain at work, including when to tell your employer, the importance of ergonomics, working with an occupational therapist and other tips for promoting a pain-friendly work environment.
• Opioid Prescribing for Chronic Pain (Patient Reference Guide): A guide for people with chronic pain and their families, including what to ask for when receiving treatment.
• Musculoskeletal Disorders: Prevention: This 60-minute course provides information on work-related musculoskeletal disorders and how to develop and use ergonomics as a way to prevent injuries in the workplace.
• Canadian Injured Workers Alliance: A network that supports provincial and territorial injured worker organizations.