The BC government is providing a $1 million grant to expand access to resources aimed at preventing overdose deaths in the construction industry.

Sheila Malcolmson, Minister for Mental Health and Addictions, says the program has been dubbed the Tailgate tool box was developed on Vancouver Island last year in partnership with people in the industry who have experience with illicit drug use.

She says it is now set to be rolled out across the province, offering training for supervisors, access to peer-led support groups and resources to help raise awareness of treatment options and fight the stigma surrounding drug use.

Rory Kulmala, CEO of the Vancouver Island Construction Association, says harm reduction coordinators are also sent to job sites for tailgate talks and have provided resources to more than 350 workers since launching last August. .

Malcolmson says men account for almost 80% of all illicit drug deaths in British Columbia, while almost 20% of those who died and whose occupations were recorded worked in trades, transport or as equipment operators.

She says the program encourages conversations about drug use and addiction, reducing the stigma that can deter people from seeking help and causes them to hide their drug use and use drugs alone.

“In this climate of terribly increasing toxicity of illicit drugs, using drugs often means dying alone,” Malcolmson said Thursday.