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Season 5, Episode 208

Laborers’ Health and Safety Fund launches peer support program

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Guest Name:


Jamie Becker

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Laborers’ Health and Safety Fund of North America

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Jamie Becker, Director of Health Promotion for the Laborers’ Health and Safety Fund of North America (LHSFNA), joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about National Drug Take Back Day, peer support programs and the Laborers’ Escaping Adversity Now (LEAN) program.

Oct. 26 is the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) National Drug Take Back Day. Becker said this day occurs twice a year — once in spring and once in fall. It is dedicated to encouraging the safe disposal of unused or expired prescription medications. She said this day is important to the construction industry, as many construction workers have pain medication in their homes. Any extra medications that are not being used or needed should be disposed of safely. 

Becker then spoke about the value of peer support for tradesmen and tradeswomen who are dealing with life stressors that may contribute to drug and/or alcohol use. She described three reasons why peer support is successful: It reduces stigma, provides empathy and understanding and connects people with the help they need. 

In August, the LHSFNA held a soft launch for its LEAN program. Becker described the program as an initiative designed to provide vital peer support for LIUNA members and their families facing substance use and mental health challenges. This program offers essential guidance, connects members with lifesaving resources and paves the way to recovery for those facing a broad range of adversity. Initially, the “A” in LEAN stood for addiction, but the “A” was changed to adversity to reflect the many different challenges members may face. The official launch will take place in January 2025.

Becker also spoke about the need to provide Local Unions or Health and Welfare Funds with mental health resources. The LHSFNA has created a guidebook and resource manual to help them create their own version of the LEAN program. She called LEAN the gold standard of peer support programs, but acknowledged there are other options for Locals or Health and Welfare Funds that cannot start their own LEAN program. 

To hear more about the importance of peer support, listen to the episode above.


America’s Work Force is the only daily labor podcast in the US and has been on the air since 1993, supplying listeners with useful, relevant input into their daily lives through fact-finding features, in-depth interviews, informative news segments and practical consumer reports. America’s Work Force is committed to providing an accessible venue in which America's workers and their families can hear discussion on important, relevant topics such as employment, healthcare, legislative action, labor-management relations, corporate practices, finances, local and national politics, consumer reports and labor issues.

America’s Work Force Union Podcast is brought to you in part by our sponsors: AFL-CIO, American Federation of Government Employees, American Federation of Musicians Local 4, Alliance for American Manufacturing, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes-IBT, Boyd Watterson, Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, Communication Workers of America, Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 50, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Crafts, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 6, Ironworkers Great Lakes District Council, Melwood, The Labor Citizen newspaper, Laborers International Union of North America, The National Labor Office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield, North Coast Area Labor Federation, Ohio Federation of Teachers, United Labor Agency, United Steelworkers.

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