Racial Differences in Retention in a Community-based Addiction Reduction Program Implemented by Peer Recovery Coaches...

Area of Science:

• Implementation Science
• Public Health
• Addiction Medicine

Background:

• Retention in addiction treatment programs is crucial for successful recovery outcomes.
• Understanding factors influencing retention, particularly among diverse populations, is essential for program improvement.
• Community-based addiction reduction programs aim to provide accessible support for women of reproductive age.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify program characteristics influencing the retention of women of reproductive age in the Community-based Addiction Reduction (CARE) program.
• To examine racial differences in treatment engagement and retention within the CARE program.
• To explore the role of Peer Recovery Coaches (PRCs) in supporting participant retention.

Main Methods:

• Mixed-method analysis of survey data and PRC narrative entries from 251 women in the CARE program.
• Quantitative comparison of retention rates and motivation scales by race using Chi-square/T-tests.
• Qualitative thematic analysis of PRC narrative entries to identify emergent support themes.

Main Results:

• White women were more likely to be in treatment at intake and more motivated than Black women.
• Black women demonstrated significantly longer retention in the CARE program at 2-, 6-, and 9-month follow-ups.
• PRC narrative analysis revealed that Black women received more detailed information and proactive, hands-on support from PRCs.

Conclusions:

• Peer Recovery Coaches play a vital role in enhancing participant retention in addiction recovery programs.
• Proactive, individualized support from PRCs, particularly for Black women, appears to foster trust and improve engagement.
• Integrating PRCs effectively into substance use disorder recovery programs can improve retention, especially for underserved populations.