Peer Recovery Support for Substance Use Disorders

(P2P Trial)

Overseen By Ruth Fetter

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: UConn Health

Disqualifiers: Opiate addiction, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to assist young adults aged 18-25 who are beginning outpatient treatment for substance use issues, such as opiate addiction. It tests whether adding peer recovery support—a program led by individuals with lived recovery experience—can help retain participants in treatment and reduce dropout rates. Clinics will either maintain their usual services or incorporate this new peer support enhancement. Young adults between 18 and 25 who are starting outpatient treatment for a substance use problem may be suitable candidates for this trial. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to explore innovative support methods that could enhance the recovery journey.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your healthcare provider.

What prior data suggests that this peer recovery support enhancement is safe for emerging adults?

Research shows that peer recovery support services are generally safe for people with substance use disorders. These services involve support from individuals who have successfully completed recovery. Studies indicate that people respond well to these services, which help them remain in treatment and reduce dropout rates.

No major reports of negative effects linked to peer recovery support appear in the available studies. This suggests that these services are safe. They have been used in various settings without significant safety issues. Overall, peer recovery support services have a strong safety record in similar situations. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Peer Recovery Support-Delivered Dropout Prevention enhancement because it offers a unique approach to tackling substance use disorders. Unlike traditional treatments, which often rely on medication-assisted therapy or individual counseling, this method incorporates peer support to help prevent dropout from treatment programs. By involving individuals who have successfully navigated recovery themselves, this approach fosters a sense of community and understanding, which can be crucial for maintaining engagement. The hope is that this enhancement will lead to better retention in treatment and ultimately, more successful recovery outcomes.

What evidence suggests that the Peer Recovery Support-Delivered Dropout Prevention enhancement is effective for reducing dropout in substance use disorder treatment?

Research has shown that peer support can significantly aid individuals with substance use problems. One study found that participants who received peer support reduced their substance use from 30% to 16%, while those without support increased their use. Another review found that peer support lowered relapse rates and extended treatment duration. In this trial, participants in one arm will receive Peer Recovery Support-Delivered Dropout Prevention alongside usual services. A report indicated that 88.6% of individuals in a similar peer support program continued methadone treatment, nearly 29% more than those without support. These findings suggest that peer support can help young adults adhere to their treatment and reduce dropout rates. ^{2 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Kristyn Zajac, PhD

Principal Investigator

UConn Health

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for young adults aged 18-25 who are starting outpatient treatment for substance use issues. It's designed to help them stick with their treatment program and not drop out early.

Inclusion Criteria

Initiating outpatient treatment for a substance use problem

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Usual Services

Clinics deliver their normal outpatient services

90 days

Regular visits as per treatment plan

Dropout Prevention Enhancement

Peer recovery support-delivered dropout prevention enhancement added to usual services

90 days

Regular visits as per treatment plan

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for dropout rates and service utilization

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Peer Recovery Support-Delivered Dropout Prevention enhancement

Trial Overview The study tests a new support service delivered by peers who have recovered from addiction themselves. This service aims to improve how well young adults follow through with their substance use disorder treatments.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Peer Recovery Support - Delivered Dropout Prevention + Usual Services Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

clinics will continue to deliver their normal outpatient services plus the peer recovery support-delivered dropout prevention enhancement

Group II: Usual Services Active Control 1 Intervention

clinics will continue to deliver their normal outpatient services

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

UConn Health

Lead Sponsor

Trials

218

Recruited

59,100+

University of Texas at Austin

Collaborator

Trials

387

Recruited

86,100+

Oregon Social Learning Center

Collaborator

Trials

36

Recruited

8,900+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The PEER program effectively identified clients with substance use disorders who had high needs for social support and were at risk of recidivism, demonstrating its potential to address complex health and social issues among this population.

Despite challenges in client contact and funding stability, the program's sustainability was rated as stable, suggesting that with adjustments to service delivery and risk stratification, it could be further optimized for effectiveness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Where It Really Counts: Feasibility and Potential of the Peer Engaged Empowered Recovery Program for Substance-Dependent Jail Inmates. Parekh, T., Cuellar, AE., Farina-Morse, M., et al.[2022]

Peer recovery support services (PRSS) show promise in improving outcomes for individuals with substance use disorder (SUD), including reduced substance use, lower relapse rates, and increased treatment satisfaction, based on a systematic review of various studies.

However, the existing research has significant methodological limitations, such as inconsistent definitions of peer roles and a lack of appropriate comparison groups, highlighting the need for more rigorous studies to better understand the efficacy and implementation of PRSS.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Lived Experience in New Models of Care for Substance Use Disorder: A Systematic Review of Peer Recovery Support Services and Recovery Coaching. Eddie, D., Hoffman, L., Vilsaint, C., et al.[2023]

Peer recovery support services (PRSS) have been integrated into the recovery process for opioid use disorder (OUD), but their effectiveness on clinical outcomes remains unclear, as only 12 out of 123 studies met the inclusion criteria for review.

Most studies reported on PRSS engagement and medication for OUD (MOUD) initiation, but findings were inconsistent and varied due to the lack of standardized PRSS interventions and methodological limitations, indicating a need for further research before widespread implementation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of peer recovery support services on stages of the opioid use disorder treatment cascade: A systematic review. Gormley, MA., Pericot-Valverde, I., Diaz, L., et al.[2022]

Buprenorphine is an effective and low-toxicity treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD), but two-thirds of patients discontinue treatment within six months, increasing risks of relapse and other negative outcomes.

Peer support programs, which utilize individuals with lived experience of substance use and recovery, can enhance patient retention in OUD treatment by providing education, encouragement, and assistance in overcoming barriers, but clear guidance is needed for their integration into primary care settings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Integrating peer support services into primary care-based OUD treatment: Lessons from the Penn integrated model. Harris, RA., Campbell, K., Calderbank, T., et al.[2023]

Peer recovery support services are increasingly recognized as valuable in treating substance use disorders, offering a broader range of support than traditional mutual support groups.

The literature review highlights the need for more research to clearly differentiate the specific benefits of peer recovery support services from other recovery activities.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Peer recovery support for individuals with substance use disorders: assessing the evidence. Reif, S., Braude, L., Lyman, DR., et al.[2015]

Peer support groups have shown potential benefits in addiction treatment, including reductions in substance use, increased treatment engagement, and improved self-efficacy among participants, based on a review of ten studies conducted in the U.S. since 1999.

Despite these promising findings, the overall lack of rigorously tested empirical studies limits the ability to draw definitive conclusions about the effectiveness of peer support as a formal intervention in addiction treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Benefits of peer support groups in the treatment of addiction. Tracy, K., Wallace, SP.[2020]

In a study of 137 adults with co-occurring psychosis and substance use disorders, adding peer recovery supports to standard care improved engagement in treatment and reduced alcohol use over time.

At three months, skills training alone helped reduce symptoms and alcohol use, while peer support enhanced social connections and outpatient service use; by nine months, it further decreased symptoms and inpatient readmissions, highlighting the long-term benefits of peer support.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Enhancing outcomes for persons with co-occurring disorders through skills training and peer recovery support. O'Connell, MJ., Flanagan, EH., Delphin-Rittmon, ME., et al.[2020]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12357432/

Peer support services for individuals with health-related needs ... Substance use decreased among program participants from baseline to 6-month follow-up (30–16%) but increased among control (26–41%) and ...

2. link.springer.com link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40429-025-00645-8

Peer Recovery Support Services and Recovery Coaching ... In this article, we systematically review the research on peer recovery support services (PRSS) for substance use disorder (SUD).

3. lbj.utexas.edu lbj.utexas.edu/todd-olmstead-team-awarded-35m-grant-study-peer-recovery-support-substance-use-treatment

Todd Olmstead on team awarded $3.5M grant to study peer ... This project will evaluate an enhancement to usual services, delivered by peer recovery supports, specifically aimed at improving treatment ...

4. psychiatryonline.org psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ps.201400047

Peer Recovery Support for Individuals With Substance Use ... Studies demonstrated reduced relapse rates, increased treatment retention, improved relationships with treatment providers and social supports, and increased ...

5. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9590100/

Peer recovery specialist-delivered, behavioral activation ... For effectiveness outcomes, 88.6% of participants in Peer Activate were retained in methadone treatment at three-months post-intervention—28.9% higher than ...

6. mass.gov mass.gov/doc/peer-research-review-submitted-by-kim-krawczyk/download

Peer Recovery Support for Individuals With Substance Use ... Peer recovery support activities have been incorporated into various approaches for working with indivi- duals with substance use disorders, in-.

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10038377/

The effectiveness of peer support from a person with lived ... This systematic review aimed to understand the effectiveness of peer support for youth depression and anxiety (either primary or comorbid)

8. samhsa.gov samhsa.gov/technical-assistance/brss-tacs/peer-support-workers

Peer Support Workers for those in Recovery Peer support workers are people who have been successful in the recovery process who help others experiencing similar situations.

9. mass.gov mass.gov/doc/mgh-recovery-coach-report-submitted-to-recovery-coach-inbox/download

A Systematic Review of Peer Recovery Support Services ... No group differences were noted in detoxification or treatment admissions among those who were abstinent. Those receiving the peer- support intervention.