Connecting young people at risk of disengagement back into AOD treatment

Researchers from the National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research are launching the Peer to Peer Project: a study investigating the crucial role lived experience work can play in re-engaging young people in Alcohol and Drug (AOD) treatment. The project aims to understand how peer support workers (PSW) can best be implemented into AOD treatment services through conducting qualitative interviews of young clients (aged 16 – 35 years), peer support workers and staff/clinicians from mental health and AOD treatment services.

Treatment drop-outs are unfortunately common among AOD treatment services, and young people are unfortunately at greater risk of treatment non-engagement. Peer support workers – a person employed by a service with lived or living experienced of treatment and recovery – have made an impact in mental health services, helping clients navigate the treatment landscape, while bridging the connection between clients and treating clinicians. Yet, the beneficial role of peer support work in AOD treatment services remains understudied.

Findings from this research project aim to discover the challenges young people face when engaging in AOD treatment, along with the potential benefits a peer support worker can provide for reducing treatment drop-outs. Crucially, the study seeks to find what factors and qualities of a peer support worker can be matched with a young person to improve treatment engagement.

Moreover, the role of lived experience work and its place within AOD treatment services will be studied. Perceptions about lived experience work from clients and staff/clinicians who work with and alongside peer support workers can help shape the development of this emerging profession. Some stakeholders may have positive perceptions of lived experience work, while others may have concerns about their overlapping roles within treatment services shared by their lived experience peers.

Improving AOD treatment engagement will, in hope, increase the socioemotional wellbeing of young people. This will reduce the long-term burden on the health system and society more broadly. The study will be recruiting participants from Mental Health and AOD treatment services in the near future.

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