Peer support on the road to recovery

More than 17% of Americans ages 12 and older have had a substance use disorder within the past year, according to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). And among those respondents, more than 37% did not receive any treatment for substance use.

Being ready to make a change is a first step towards recovery, but barriers like cost and location can deter people from seeking the necessary treatment. And for many, another challenge to overcome is stigma. There can be a fear of judgement or acceptance as a result of internalizing the negative stereotypes of addiction – but through the support of peers, it’s possible to alleviate those stigmas.

“I think the turning point for me was really when I met somebody who I really liked who was…in recovery and went to [the] 12-step group,” shared Brendan Little, founding policy director of Boston’s Office of Recovery Services, on an episode of Turning Points: Navigating Mental Health. During the podcast, he recalls how the two became connected over a shared a passion for playing music. When the 12-step program came up in conversation, Brendan shares that he was lost in his own substance use and didn’t think the program was for him or even really worked.

“His response was like, ‘Oh yeah, no worries. It’s not for everybody. It works for me. Let’s go do this music.’ He didn’t chastise me. He didn’t try to shame me or yell at me.”

When Brendan was ready for recovery, that’s the friend he called. “To me the biggest takeaway was that he was caring, he was kind, he was non-judgmental. He saw me as a human.”

Building a support system

Knowing someone else with a similar experience can be comforting for any situation – but when it comes to addiction, it can be key to getting through the recovery process. It’s likely why groups like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous utilize peer support through conversations at meetings and with mentorship programs.

And whether you’re seeking support or are on the path to recovery, a potentially lesser-known peer support option may be through your health plan. For our Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Tufts Health Plan members who may be struggling with behavioral health challenges including substance use disorder, we provide a complementary support service of peer recovery specialists. This team is made up of individuals who can relate to members on a more personal level, as they identify as being in recovery for their own behavioral health challenges.

“As people with lived experience, we can be uniquely helpful to members by being able to build rapport fast and meet them where they are at,” shares Tammy Waterman, one of our peer recovery specialists who specializes in substance use disorder.

Taking on recovery together

Tammy and the team help to empower members who are transitioning from an inpatient stay and either going for further treatment or getting back into the community. They work together with the member over the phone to identify goals, connect them to long-term resources either online or in their communities and offer words of support and encouragement through regular check-ins.

“It never gets tiring seeing a member start to build up self-confidence, determination, purpose and finding their voice again,” notes Tammy.

Whether you know someone who is facing is addiction or not, a takeaway for all of us to remember is that peer support and community can go a long way – something Brendan alluded to during his conversation on Turning Points.

“The thing I always come back to is helping people and being of service to others. That’s a core tenant of my recovery practice. It’s been the key to my healing.”