In this episode of BHT Bytes, hosts Peter Fenger and Sharlee Dixon dive into the world of peer recovery specialists, the unsung heroes of addiction and mental health recovery. These are people who’ve lived through substance use challenges themselves or supported loved ones through them, and now use that experience to guide others toward healing and stability. With over 49 million Americans reporting substance use disorders and more than 100,000 overdose deaths in 2022, peer specialists are filling critical gaps across hospitals, courts, and communities. They offer what clinical care alone often can’t: empathy born from experience, mentorship grounded in shared struggle, and the kind of hope that comes from having walked the same path. Peter and Sharlee explore what makes peer recovery work unique, how certification and training shape the profession, and why funding cuts threaten a workforce that’s proven to save lives. From questions of quality and access to the broader cultural shift toward seeing recovery as a shared journey, this episode unpacks what’s at stake, and what the future of peer support could look like.

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