As British Columbia marks nine years since the toxic drug crisis was declared a public health emergency, a free public event in Trail will shine a spotlight on one of the hardest-hit groups: men working in industry.
Hosted by the Trail Community Action Team (TCAT) in partnership with the United Steelworkers Local 480 and Teck Resources, the event, titled Building Hope: Mental Health & Substance Use in the Community, Workplace & Home, will be held on Thursday, April 24, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Union Hall, 910 Portland Street, Trail.
This presentation is part of TCAT’s annual “Respect & Connect: A Better Community for Us All” education series.
This year’s focus is on industrial workers, who are disproportionately affected by toxic drug poisoning deaths.
“People who work in industry are at higher risk of death from toxic drugs than other groups,” explained Tammy McLean, chair of the Trail CAT and member of Moms Stop the Harm, referring to a September 2018 report by the BC Coroners Service titled, “Illicit Overdose Deaths in BC.”
“Trades, transport and equipment operators make up 15 per cent of the workforce in B.C., but account for more than half of toxic drug deaths among those employed at the time of their deaths.”
According to the BC Coroners Service, more than 14,000 people have died due to toxic drug poisoning since the public health emergency was declared in 2016, including 47 residents from Trail.
Today, six people die each day in B.C. from unregulated drugs, 70 per cent of whom are men between the ages of 30 and 59.
Adding to the crisis is the stigma workers face when it comes to seeking help.
A national survey conducted by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction revealed 64 per cent of workers hide their substance use due to fear of job loss or discrimination.
To address these issues, TCAT has invited Mika Dumont, coordinator with the Tailgate Toolkit Project, and Lorna Thomas, co-founder of Moms Stop the Harm, to lead the April 24 presentation.
The Tailgate Toolkit Project, launched by the Vancouver Island Construction Association, provides training and education that examines the links between physical pain, mental health, and substance use, with tools for both employers and workers.
Dumont draws on lived experience and a background in the trades, while Thomas shares her perspective as the mother of a young welder who died of a substance-related death.
Thomas also produced the video series Building Hope: Substance Use in the Trades and has presented to numerous construction and mining firms across Canada.
The event is free and open to the public, though registration is required to ensure enough space for attendees.
To register, visit TCAT’s Facebook page: Trail Community Action Team.
By bringing these conversations into the open and offering the right tools, TCAT says a better, safer, and more supportive community can be built, at work and at home.
For more on the Tailgate Toolkit Project, visit thetailgatetoolkit.ca.
