Peer Recovery Support Services and Recovery Coaching for Substance Use Disorder: A Systematic Review

In this article, we systematically review the research on peer recovery support services (PRSS) for substance use disorder (SUD).

We update our 2019 review on PRSS for SUD, with a focus on quantitative, multi-group studies (K = 28; N = 12,601). We searched four databases (December 2024), identifying 17 new studies reviewed here in addition to 11 studies included in our previous review. Though challenges with synthesis of this diverse literature remain, evidence has coalesced to indicate the capacity of PRSS to improve SUD treatment engagement and retention, with some preliminary but inconclusive evidence suggesting PRSS may also support better substance use outcomes.

PRSS can play an important role in the SUD care continuum, particularly in helping individuals initiate and stay engaged with treatment. More work is needed, however, to determine when, where, and over what duration PRSS are most impactful, as well as for whom, and under what conditions PRSS are most beneficial.