Recovery & aftercare

Peer recovery support: How people with lived experience help others

Published June 25, 2025 · 7 min read · Updated April 2026

Reviewed for accuracy by licensed clinical professionals.

Peer recovery support specialists are people with personal recovery experience who are trained to support others in their recovery journey.

What peers do

Share personal recovery experience. Provide hope and modeling (proof that recovery works). Help navigate treatment systems. Connect people to community resources. Provide ongoing support and accountability. Bridge gaps between clinical treatment and community recovery.

Training and certification

Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) or equivalent state certification. Training in ethics, boundaries, motivational interviewing, and crisis intervention. Ongoing supervision and continuing education.

Effectiveness

Research shows peer support improves treatment engagement, reduces substance use, increases recovery capital, and reduces healthcare utilization. Peers provide something clinicians cannot: I have been there credibility.

Finding peer support

Treatment centers increasingly employ peer specialists. Recovery community organizations (RCOs). Peer-run recovery centers. SAMHSA's peer support locator.

Authoritative sources

This article references guidelines from: SAMHSA · NIDA · ASAM

Frequently asked questions

What is a peer recovery specialist?

A trained individual with personal recovery experience who supports others in their recovery journey.

Is peer support effective?

Yes. Research shows improved treatment engagement, reduced substance use, and increased recovery capital.

How do I find a peer specialist?

Treatment centers, recovery community organizations, peer-run recovery centers, and SAMHSA resources.

Disclaimer: Informational only. Not medical advice. SAMHSA: 1-800-662-4357.