Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont and Attorney General William Tong are supporting a brief work stoppage at a number of construction sites across the state this week to bring attention to the problem of opioid abuse in the construction industry.
Lamont says construction workers have some of the highest rates of opioid abuse in Connecticut, due to the overprescription of painkillers for work-related injuries.
He says that’s why the awareness campaign – "You Are Not Alone: There Is Help" – is necessary and that affected workers should not be ashamed to seek help.
“Come forward, we’ll tell you what success is. We’ll tell you how you can turn it around. We’ll tell you how you get aid. We’ll tell you how you get help. We’ll find you a coach, and make sure you get back on your feet.”
Attorney General Tong says the state has sued opioid manufacturers like Purdue Pharma, but there needs to be a larger public effort to deal with the healthcare crisis.
“Your sisters and brothers who confront addiction, who struggle every day, that fight will never end. And unless you help them, not all of them will make it.”
Lamont and Tong spoke to workers at the State Office Building in Hartford, where a massive renovation project is underway. They were joined by union and construction industry officials.
