Drugs, Alcohol & Industry Denial: What Construction Needs to Hear - with Nick o'Shea

Build & Thrive

In this powerful and honest episode of Build & Thrive, host Jennie Armstrong sits down with Nick O’Shea – construction professional, podcast host, and person in recovery – to talk about the role addiction plays in the construction industry.

With over a decade in construction and a personal journey through drug and alcohol addiction, Nick offers a deeply human perspective on the workplace culture that normalises excessive drinking, dismisses mental health, and enables risky behaviours. He opens up about how his own addiction was shaped by the industry, the badge-of-honour attitude towards pub culture, and why drug and alcohol testing isn't enough.

They explore:

• Nick’s personal story of addiction, recovery and sobriety
• The impact of construction culture, long hours, and being away from home
• Why awareness alone isn’t enough – and how organisations need to take real action
• The difference between policy and lived experience
• What the future of wellbeing in construction should look like – and how Nick’s Hard Hat Reset programme aims to support that shift

Whether you're in leadership, HR, boots on site or simply care about your colleagues, this episode is a must-listen. It's about breaking the stigma, challenging assumptions, and building an industry where wellbeing is more than a checkbox.

🎧 Available as a podcast and video:

🎧 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2431164 (or search your podcast app)

📺 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEoibJLDuFnnT3qSQw37LKPG6xlyvCj7B

🔹 Thank you to our sponsor, GKR Scaffolding, for supporting this series and helping us share our mission of improving health and wellbeing in construction.

Episode Links:

Jennie Armstrong: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniearmstrong/

Construction Health & Wellbeing: https://constructionhealth.co.uk/

Nick o’Shea:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-o%E2%80%99shea-2146541bb/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getsoberwithnick/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@G_S_W_N
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7liv2xGkqO2ETZjs1jPsLV?si=0f5815609d464a8e

GKR Scaffolding (sponsor): https://gkrscaffolding.co.uk/

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