Peer Activate: A Feasibility Trial of a Peer-Delivered Intervention to Decrease Disparities in Substance Use,...

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Substance Use Disorders
• Mental Health Interventions

Background:

• Racial/ethnic minorities with lower income face disparities in accessing effective interventions and experience healthcare stigma.
• Peer recovery specialists (PRSs) are well-positioned to address these barriers but lack traditional training in evidence-based interventions (EBIs).

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the implementation and preliminary effectiveness of an adapted EBI delivered by PRSs.
• To assess the intervention's feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness for linking individuals to substance use treatment.
• To examine the intervention's impact on recovery, linkage to care, and depressive symptoms.

Main Methods:

• An open-label trial involving 8 participants was conducted.
• An adapted evidence-based intervention was delivered by a peer interventionist in a community setting.
• Outcomes measured included feasibility, acceptability, fidelity, substance use, and depressive symptoms.

Main Results:

• The adapted EBI delivered by PRSs was found to be feasible, acceptable, and appropriate.
• The intervention successfully linked individuals to substance use treatment with high fidelity.
• Participants completing the intervention showed significant decreases in substance use and depressive symptoms.

Conclusions:

• Peer recovery specialists can effectively disseminate EBIs to increase linkage to care.
• This approach shows promise for supporting recovery in traditionally underserved populations.
• Findings support the role of PRSs in bridging gaps in substance use disorder and mental health services.