Building Healthier Futures: 7 Ways Superintendents Can Protect Crews from Opioid Misuse

By Dr. Nzinga Harrison

Across the United States, the overdose crisis is claiming lives at a staggering pace. The pandemic intensified this public health emergency, and construction workers remain among the most vulnerable. In just one five-year span, construction employees made up only 7% of the workforce but accounted for 15% of all workplace overdose fatalities.

These aren’t just statistics – they represent real people: friends, family members and crew members. For superintendents, who are closest to the daily realities of the jobsite, the question is clear: what can you do today to protect your crew?

The answer doesn’t lie in blame or stigma. The elevated risk in construction isn’t about personal weakness;  it’s about the physical, high-risk nature of the work. Muscle strains, fractures and chronic injuries are common. Opioids are often prescribed as the “quick fix,” and while they can ease pain in the short term, they carry real risks for dependency and overdose.

Superintendents are in a unique position. You see the injuries happen, hear the concerns of the crew and know which workers are struggling. You’re also trusted. By taking practical steps, you can play a direct role in preventing substance use disorder, supporting recovery and saving lives. The following are seven key actions every superintendent can take on the jobsite:

1. Promote injury prevention from the start
The most powerful way to reduce opioid risk is to prevent injuries in the first place. Superintendents can shape safer worksites every day. That means ensuring equipment is well-maintained, jobs are designed with ergonomics in mind and every crew member receives thorough safety training.
When shortcuts are taken — whether in lifting techniques, ladder use or protective gear — the likelihood of injury rises. A single back strain or fall can result in a prescription for opioids. By being vigilant and proactive, superintendents can stop that cycle before it begins.

Practical steps include:

• Building safety talks into daily routines
• Rotating crew members through high-strain tasks to avoid repetitive injuries
• Advocating for proper rest breaks during long shifts

2. Communicate whole-person healthcare policies
Many construction workers don’t know what benefits their company offers — or assume using them could hurt their job security. Superintendents can bridge that gap. Make sure your crew understands that healthcare policies often go beyond emergency care. They may include physical therapy, mental health counseling or medications for opioid use disorder. Talking openly about these benefits normalizes the idea that recovery and care are part of the job, not a weakness.

You don’t have to be the expert. Simply reminding workers, “Our insurance covers physical and mental health therapy — have you looked into it?” or posting hotline numbers in common areas can make a difference.

3. Ensure adequate recovery time
The pressure to get back on the job after an injury is real — especially when deadlines loom. But rushing recovery can lead to reinjury, chronic pain and more prescriptions. Superintendents have the authority to enforce downtime. That means encouraging crew members to use paid leave or workers’ compensation to heal fully. Remind them that pushing through pain may feel tough in the short term but could sideline them permanently.

Backing workers up when they need recovery time sends a powerful message; their long-term health matters more than the short-term schedule.

4. Encourage alternatives to opioids for pain management
Opioids are not the only option for pain relief, and superintendents can help spread that message. Encourage workers to talk with healthcare providers about alternatives such as non-opioid medications, nerve blocks, physical therapy or complementary approaches like acupuncture.

When someone gets injured, ask a supportive, stigma-free question: “Did your doctor talk with you about any non-opioid options?” This small prompt may open the door for safer pain management.

5. Foster a safe environment for mental health and substance use conversations
Stigma keeps too many workers silent. On a jobsite where toughness is prized, admitting to pain, stress or substance struggles can feel impossible. Superintendents can change that culture. By speaking openly about mental health in safety briefings, modeling compassion and shutting down jokes or dismissive comments, you set the tone. Encourage peer support and remind your team that asking for help is a sign of strength.

If someone approaches you, listen without judgment and connect them to resources. You don’t need to solve the problem — you just need to make it safe to start the conversation.

6. Support culturally relevant resources
Not all workers face the same risks or have equal access to care. Hispanic construction workers, for example, experience higher injury rates and more fatal falls, often compounded by language barriers. Between 2014 and 2017, overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids in this population rose more than 600%.

Superintendents can advocate for resources in the languages your crew speaks. That might mean ensuring safety manuals are translated, connecting workers to bilingual counselors or inviting community organizations to share information onsite.

7. Build bridges to community partnerships
Smaller contractors often lack the infrastructure to provide robust healthcare or employee assistance programs. Superintendents can step in by forging connections with local recovery centers, health clinics or nonprofits.

Posting flyers from local organizations, inviting guest speakers to toolbox talks or simply knowing where to point someone for help creates a safety net beyond the jobsite. Community partnerships can mean the difference between someone silently struggling and someone finding recovery.

A future worth building together
Construction crews are the backbone of our communities. They build the schools our children attend, the roads we drive on and the homes we live in. They deserve more than gratitude; they deserve workplaces that prioritize both safety and health.

Superintendents, more than anyone else, can influence that outcome. By taking these seven steps, you’re not only protecting your crew from immediate harm — you’re building healthier futures for them, their families and the entire industry.

Because when the people who build our communities are cared for, everyone stands on stronger ground.

Nzinga Harrison, M.D., is chief medical officer and co-founder of Eleanor Health.

Photo by Oscar Ochoa on Unsplash