THE CRISIS
Workers in the trades are 7x more likely to die from an overdose.
Self-medication is what happens when pain meets isolation.
To ensure the foundation’s message is backed by undeniable truth, here are the primary sources and specific data points for the statistics we've included.
These figures come from the most recent reports provided by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control), SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration), and CPWR (The Center for Construction Research and Training).
Suicide Rates (The "5x" Weight)
The statement that suicide rates are significantly higher in the trades is a consistent finding in recent occupational health data.
Source: CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) and CPWR Data Bulletin (2024).The Data: Male construction workers have a suicide rate of approximately 56 per 100,000. To put that in perspective, the rate for the general working population is about 32 per 100,000, and the rate for on-the-job physical fatalities is significantly lower (approx. 10 per 100,000).
The Reality: A construction worker is statistically more likely to die by suicide than by any other job-site hazard (falls, equipment accidents, etc.) combined.
Opioid Overdose (The "7x" Spiral)The industry's struggle with opioids is often a direct result of "working through the pain" of physical injuries.
Source: National Safety Council (NSC) and Massachusetts Department of Public Health (The "Industry Report").
The Data: Workers in construction and extraction are 6 to 7 times more likely to die from an opioid overdose than workers in other industries.
The Impact: Construction workers represent about 25% of all fatal opioid overdoses among the entire U.S. workforce, despite making up only about 7% of the total workforce.
Alcohol and Heavy Use (The "Double" Haze)Alcohol is often the most "accepted" form of self-medication in the culture of toughness.
Source: SAMHSA National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH).
The Data: Approximately 16.5% of construction workers report "heavy alcohol use" (defined as 5+ drinks on the same occasion on each of 5 or more days in the past 30 days).
The Comparison: This is nearly double the national average for all full-time workers (which sits around 8.5% to 9%).
General Substance Use Disorder (SUD)Source: National Safety Council (NSC) Analysis of NSDUH Data.
The Data: Roughly 1 in 5 (19%) construction workers have a diagnosable Substance Use Disorder.
The Comparison: This is roughly twice the rate seen in professional, educational, or office-based careers.
THE MUDDSKIP CONNECTION
CHOOSE YOUR STORY
Muddskip understands the value of time. By delivering results up to 50% faster, the technology reclaims the one thing the industry rarely protects: margin in the day. The Foundation meets you in that reclaimed space. Whether you use that time for your health, your family, or your peace of mind, we provide the tools to help you Choose Your Story.
Muddskip reclaims the time. The Foundation protects the person.
Together, they replace avoidance with accountability. We identify and support organizations that provide direct financial and emotional lifelines to those in crisis. Because it is never the big moments that save us—it’s the small, deliberate choices made early and consistently.
It’s the little things that matter.
THE CROSS-LINK
PARTNER PHILOSOPHY
LOVE OVER FEAR
Muddskip is the first to commit, but this mission belongs to the industry at large. We are seeking partners - contractors, developers, and tech leaders -who choose Love over Fear.
In an industry built on "toughness," fear often dictates the silence. We align with those who have the heart to flip the script. We work with organizations that recognize the most important tool in any project is the human being behind it. We aren't just looking for donors; we are looking for leaders ready to set a new standard for how we protect our own.