In this episode, I talk about how peer support and recovery groups contribute to treatment engagement, overdose prevention, and long-term recovery for people with opioid use disorder. I discuss studies showing that strong involvement in 12-step programs can enhance psychological well-being and that peer-led outreach is effective in connecting individuals to care. I also highlight the value of peer support in emergency departments and the challenges peers face, such as stigma and limited workplace recognition. The episode closes with a reflection on why investing in peer supporters is essential for strengthening overdose response and recovery systems. 

Download the one-pager (PDF).

This project was supported by Grant [5PBJA-22-AG-00031-MUMU] awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking. Points of view or opinions in this podcast are those of the host and the research team and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.