Experiences of peer work in drug use service settings: A systematic review of qualitative evidence

Lit review
by
Chen, Yun, Yequing Yuan & Beth Glover Reed

Release Date

2023

Geography

International

Language of Resource

English

Full Text Available

No

Open Access / OK to Reproduce

No

Peer Reviewed

Yes

Objective

This systematic review synthesized qualitative evidence examining the experiences of peer work in nonpeer-led drug use service settings. It focused on the benefits of incorporating peers as a unique workforce, the challenges they face, and the organizational factors that influence their practices.

Findings/Key points

Foregrounding the uniqueness of peers’ shared experience, studies have shown that incorporating peers into nonpeer-led settings can provide benefits at the client, organizational, and societal levels while promoting peers’ personal and professional growth. The unique shared experience of peers can also present multidimensional challenges, such as triggering, boundary negotiation, and feelings of being trapped by their peer identity. To fully integrate peers into the system, organizations need to work with them to reconstruct organizational mission, culture, and structures in a way that recognizes and genuine commits to peers’ unique values.

Design/methods

Lit review (33 articles included)

Keywords

Peer/PWLLE program involvement
Workplace
About PWUD