FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DrugAwareBC and Thompson Rivers University Collaborate on Trades Training Course Focused on Drug Awareness and Safety
Kamloops, BC— DrugAwareBC is partnering with Thompson Rivers University (TRU) to develop an innovative micro-credential course designed to equip tradespeople with vital knowledge on drug awareness and workplace safety.
The new training course will empower trades apprentices to better understand the impact of substance use on the job while providing practical strategies to maintain a healthy and safe work environment. Participants will gain key insights into various drugs, their effects, and how to recognize signs of substance use in the workplace. The open access course will also cover best practices for managing drug-related issues, including policies, support systems, and available resources.
“Addressing the drug overdose crisis in the trades sector is a top priority,” said a spokesperson for DrugAwareBC. “This micro-credential course represents a significant step toward helping tradespeople, especially those entering the field, navigate the complexities of drug-related challenges in the workplace.”
Significant progress has already been made in developing the TRU micro-credential, including interviews with industry peers and individuals with lived experience, as well as an analysis of collected cultural mapping data to identify key themes. A successful first iteration of a naloxone workshop has also been completed. With extended funding from the Vancouver Foundation and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), video and audio recordings will continue throughout spring 2025 to further enrich the course’s content.
In the past week, the project team began storyboarding the first two learning modules, thanks to the invaluable contributions of TRU’s Trades faculty, video materials prepared by Luke Redgrove, and graphic facilitation by Marie Bartlett.
This collaborative effort underscores the commitment of DrugAwareBC and TRU to create meaningful, impactful education that directly addresses the ongoing drug overdose crisis within the trades industry.
For more information, visit DrugAwareBC.com
About DrugAwareBC:
DrugAwareBC is a community-university research collective dedicated to raising awareness about the impact of substance use in various sectors, with a focus on workplace safety and well-being.
About Thompson Rivers University (TRU):
Thompson Rivers University is a Canadian public university that offers a wide range of programs to support students’ educational and professional growth, including a focus on applied learning and community partnerships.