Peers, people with lived experience of addiction recovery, are well positioned to address unmet service needs in rural areas. Because of their lived experience and informal approach, peers can quickly build rapport with people in or seeking recovery and connect them with local resources. However, peer services can be challenged by stigma toward drug use, inconsistencies with credentialing and supervision, and the emotional burden of the work. These challenges may be exacerbated in rural communities characterized by fewer resources and conservative beliefs about addiction recovery.

This webinar will present an overview of the value of peer services in rural communities. Attendees will review various peer support models and identify strategies for successfully incorporating peers in existing health and social service settings.

Presenter: Emily Pasman, PhD, LMSW is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Michigan Center for the Study of Drugs, Alcohol, Smoking and Health. Her social work practice has centered around the development, implementation, and evaluation of peer-delivered recovery support services. Her current research aims to expand harm reduction interventions and improve peer-delivered services, primarily by reducing stigma toward non-abstinent recovery.