Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'm Rory Kulmala, CEO of the Vancouver Island Construction Association, where I have the privilege to work and live in the traditional territories of the Lekwungen peoples and on the historical lands that we have a relationship with through the Songhees, Esquimalt and Saanich peoples to this day.
The year 2024 marks the eight-year anniversary of the state of emergency declared by the B.C. government in 2016 in response to a dramatic increase in overdose deaths that year. Toxic drug poisoning from illicit drugs remains the most prominent cause of unnatural death in British Columbia, greatly surpassing those of suicide, motor vehicle accidents, homicide and prescription drug overdose.
In 2022, the BC coroner's office released the report “BC Coroners Service Death Review Panel: A Review of Illicit Drug Toxicity Deaths”, which outlined some important demographic trends among a representative sample of British Columbians lost to toxic drug poisoning. An important finding of this report was a trend in employment by sector: Of those employed at their time of their death, 52% were working in construction, trades, transport and equipment operation. The high number of drug poisoning deaths represented in the construction industry has been, in part, attributed to substance use and consequences of strenuous work environments, with long shifts and pain. Stigma is pervasive in the construction industry, as is the real barrier to accessing treatment, resources and harm reduction supports, including those for mental health.
The Tailgate Toolkit project, which we have developed, was initially funded by Island Health. It was born out of an increased need for supports and services specifically created for the construction industry. The work of VICA's harm reduction team in creating a curriculum and dialogue for the industry was recognized by the B.C. government, and funding for the project was picked up in January 2022 to deliver this training throughout the province.
The project targets anyone working in construction and trades who uses substances and employers who wish to increase harm reduction awareness in their workplaces. The goal of this project is to bring awareness and increase access to harm reduction services and provide ideas to those who work in the construction industry. This project is the first of its kind in the construction industry. It's innovative, in that the project partners with indigenous knowledge keepers; lawyers; an organization that supports people living with chronic pain; people with lived and living experience; health authorities; managers; supervisors; and owners of construction and trades companies to break down stigma and provide training and education to meet the needs of our industry. It aims to reduce the number of toxic drug deaths in the province of British Columbia.
There are three components to the tool kit. Toolbox Talks is approximately 30 to 45 minutes in length and is delivered live on-site, and we can do it via Zoom, with VICA's harm reduction team. The talks highlight stats about the drug poisoning crisis; why it's an issue in the construction sector; why it's an issue for men particularly; the connection between mental health and substance use; physical and mental health resources; harm reduction and recovery resources; and any other available resources and supports that an employer may require.
The talks can also serve as an operation for the distribution of naloxone kits and training on those kits.
The second component of the tool kit is a training course directed at those in supervisory and frontline positions. They're delivered over two full days or four half days. The training covers statistics about the drug poisoning crisis; an introduction to harm reduction as an approach; construction industry discussions; substance use and mental health; components of stigma; recognizing substance use and impairment; mental health first aid; mental health and substance use literacy, with a focus on having effective and supportive conversations; naloxone injection training; indigenous perspectives; active listening; compassion; resiliency; chronic versus acute pain; pain management stigma; and more through the summary of services available.
In consultation with local health authorities, the third component of the tool kit is digital and print resources for both employees and employers that highlight the harm reduction and recovery services that are available to workers within and beyond their benefits packages. These resources are a mix of province-wide and regional-specific resources that will contain identity-specific supports, including indigenous-led organizations and an industry-specific support group.
VICA's current harm reduction team includes trained regional facilitators who are positioned throughout the province in construction association offices. We call them RCAs. They're all trained social workers working in collaboration with the provincial health authorities. Facilitators gather information on the programs and services available in their area and the province along with information about specific needs of individuals working and living in those regions.
Currently our B.C. construction association has reached over 12,300 construction-related companies. Facilitators offer training either virtually or in person, allowing our project to reach even more communities where travel could be a barrier.
In partnership with the Umbrella Society, which is a local substance support centre here in Victoria, B.C., the final component of VICA's project provides weekly meetings for folks in construction struggling with substance use. They are facilitated by two Umbrella Society staff who have lived experience of both substance use and working in the construction industry.
From January 2023 to the end of September 2024, VICA's harm reduction staff have had the opportunity to provide 230 talks, over 5,500 people working in the construction industry—