Peer Recovery Support

A Peer Recovery Support Specialist (PRSS) is someone who is in long-term recovery from addiction, who has become certified to provide support, guidance and education for individuals seeking or in active recovery.

Because of the PRSS’s lived experiences and personal journey through recovery, this allows them to provide recovery support in such a fashion that others can benefit from their experiences.

The specialist demonstrates that recovery is possible.

They aid in the process of giving and receiving encouragement, while assisting in the overall goal of achieving long-term recovery.

The specialist’s activities include:

• Advocating for people in recovery
• Sharing resources and building skills
• Building community partnerships
• Leading recovery groups
• Mentoring and setting goals

A Peer Recovery Specialist can...

1. Talk with individuals who are struggling with addiction and in denial to inspire them to realize what they are doing and what they want with their lives.

This is a big first step in motivating change in the individual(s).

2. Provide resources to: 

• Treatment facilities
• Medical detox
• Outpatient programs
• Chem-free housing
• Recovery meetings
• and many others

3. Improve the community by assisting the individual to become a functioning member of society.

This serves the community by...

• Contributing to an atmosphere of hope and unity
• Improving public safety by lowering recidivism rates
• Improving the economy by inspiring people to rejoin the job market
• Creating tax-paying citizens by lessening addiction and criminal thinking
• Collaborating between the courts, law enforcement and the community
• Creating a voice of reason on difficult social issues