“In their mind, they always felt less than”: The role of peers in shifting stigma as a barrier to opioid use disorder treatment retention

Providing peer navigation services to women with a history of opioid misuse pre- and post-release from jail: A program description

“…Results of this study also highlight the persistent, well-documented stigma related to MOUD among people with OUD and the recovery community. [35][36][37][38] According to Anvari and colleagues, 36 working with a peer with an aligned recovery pathway is one way to reduce internalized stigma for participants, and this strategy was used in the design of the current intervention. However, it is also necessary to address the stigma related to MOUD in the broader recovery community.…”

Promoting the integration of peer support specialists into the healthcare team

“…41 In a qualitative study on how a PSS could shift stigma, one clinical staff member shared that it could reduce stigma within the organization because they help clinicians, regardless of their own internal bias, to see the valuable contribution of people with lived experiences. 42 Societal attitudes toward persons with SUD can engender feelings of embarrassment or shame in this population-stigmatizing effects that make people less likely to seek treatment, stay in treatment, or access harm reduction services, such as access to opioid overdose reversal medications or clean needle supplies. 43 Disclosure is an essential component of the PSS relationship with the patient.…”

“…The PSS can be a role model for clinicians in showing what recovery can look like and help promote more positive attitudes toward persons with SUD 41. In a qualitative study on how a PSS could shift stigma, one clinical staff member shared that it could reduce stigma within the organization because they help clinicians, regardless of their own internal bias, to see the valuable contribution of people with lived experiences 42…”

“Sometimes you have to take the person and show them how”: adapting behavioral activation for peer recovery specialist-delivery to improve methadone treatment retention

“…Peer recovery specialists (PRSs), persons with lived experience of OUD and recovery, may be particularly well suited to support patients’ retention on MOUD. PRSs typically provide a range of services, such as linkage to resources and health care navigation, and may also have a unique opportunity to decrease stigma-related barriers through shared experience [ 14 , 15 ]. PRS services have been shown to reduced substance re-use; improve relationships with treatment providers; increase treatment retention and patient satisfaction; and reduce costly acute care utilization [ 16 , 17 ].…”