Peer Support at the Intersection of Disability and Opioid (Mis)Use: Key Stakeholders Provide Essential Considerations

Area of Science:

• Disability Studies
• Addiction Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Individuals with disabilities face higher rates of opioid/substance use disorders (OUD/SUD).
• This population often experiences unmet treatment needs and barriers to care.
• Peer support shows promise for addressing similar needs in other populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify essential considerations for adapting peer support interventions for individuals with disabilities and OUD/SUD.
• To explore stakeholder perspectives on effective peer support strategies.
• To inform the development of accessible and acceptable peer support models.

Main Methods:

• Exploratory study involving semi-structured interviews with diverse key stakeholders (n=16).
• Inclusion of a Peer Support Work Group with lived experience.
• Content analysis of interview data to identify emergent themes.

Main Results:

• Key themes included the importance of accessibility, model fit, and the concept of "peerness."
• Essential aspects of peer recruitment, training, and ongoing support were highlighted.
• Stakeholders emphasized the need for tailored approaches to meet the diverse needs of this population.

Conclusions:

• An effective peer support model for individuals with disabilities and OUD/SUD must prioritize accessibility and contextual relevance.
• Careful consideration of peer match, recruitment, training, and support is crucial.
• Tailored adaptations are necessary for successful engagement and service delivery.