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Peer support helps bridge practical barriers in early treatment, presenter says
Summary
Lauren described peers' role in the first 90 days of opioid‑treatment engagement—providing transport, records assistance, court navigation, housing and warm handoffs—and stressed peers complement but do not replace clinical staff.
Lauren, a peer‑support presenter on the webinar panel, described how peers use lived experience to help people stay connected during the highest‑risk early treatment period.
"Peers do not replace clinical staff," Lauren said, adding that peers build trust, assist with transportation and resource navigation, support license restoration and make warm handoffs to recovery supports. She said much disengagement in the first 90 days stems from non‑clinical barriers—transportation, criminal‑justice involvement and stigma—that peers are well‑positioned to address.
Lauren said peers can work in community settings—drop‑in centers, pantries, courts—and help providers become less siloed by building relationships with local organizations, recovery communities and resources. She cautioned peers are not case managers or clinicians but have unique, complementary roles that improve retention.
