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Dealing with drug and alcohol addiction is not a straight process. At rehab, you will take part in many new processes that will help you physically and psychologically overcome your addiction.
Peer support is a key aspect of addiction recovery that will have a huge impact on whether you are successful in staying clean or not.
If you are unsure about being open around strangers and non-professionals, It’s important to know about the role of peer support in addiction recovery, what the benefits are and how you can incorporate it into your journey. Find out more below.
What is Peer Support in Addiction Recovery?
Peer addiction recovery support is where people come together to help one another during the journey. All of you will have experience with alcohol or drug addiction, meaning you can offer support from a place of empathy informed by shared experiences.
The support in these groups is meant to be mutual, meaning you offer help as well as receive it – along with learning various skills helpful for recovery and becoming part of a community. Also, peer support can be easily accessible at any stage.
How Peer Support Differs from Professional Support
Peer and professional support are meant to work together, providing a comprehensive approach to addiction recovery.
In traditional therapy and counselling, you will be provided with clinical guidance and be the sole focus of sessions. Professional support is catered to meet your needs and give you tools to get better.
Peer support is usually led by a former rehab patient. These groups revolve around lived experience, talking to one another and providing insights. The role of peer support in recovery is to help people feel less isolated so they understand themselves and others better.
The Benefits of Peer Support in Addiction Recovery
There are many benefits of peer support groups that make them an integral part of any recovery journey.
Build Connection
Within peer support addiction recovery groups, you will receive empathy, acceptance and understanding. This will help you form connections with people who are sharing similar stories and offering helpful advice.
Reduce Isolation
Addiction can be lonely. You feel ashamed and angry, lost and scared. There is a stigma to addiction and it can severely impact your mental health. Peer support puts you amongst people and encourages conversation and making new friends. These groups can help reduce the feelings of isolation as you become more comfortable around people again and feel more empowered to talk about things you’ve bottled up.
Build Accountability
In a community, there is accountability. Everyone is heading toward the goal of sobriety, and there is positive pressure to keep up your end of the bargain. Your peers will also not be afraid to call you out on things if it is needed to keep you on the right track.
Boost Motivation
You can be inspired in groups. You see people further along on the journey, and you want to get to that point. Seeing others succeed can motivate you to be more committed to the process. People in the group can also encourage you, letting you know when you are doing well and making you feel like you are progressing.
Types of Peer Support Available in Addiction Recovery
There are various types of peer support available, each with their unique advantages. You should try out many types to discover what suits you and your goals the most.
12-Step Programmes
This a common type of peer support associated with Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous. The programme follows a set of guidelines, the 12 steps, and there is a focus on connection with others and having a sponsor. These groups are good as they are easily accessible, with regular meetings close to you.
Non-12-Step Groups
There are other non-12-step groups out there. They won’t have the philosophical aspects of AA that you might disagree with such as labelling yourself an addict and admitting to a higher power. Groups such as SMART Recovery put more emphasis on psychoeducation and CBT.
Recovery Coaches
A recovery coach can offer one-to-one support after you finish rehab. They are there to keep you focused and ensure you don’t relapse. A coach will also be a companion to you, keeping you motivated, helping you set and reach goals and encouraging positive behaviour.
Online Communities
With online platforms and communities, you have a wealth of support at your fingertips. You can share and access resources and talk to others. These forums provide accessible connections that you can use at your convenience.
Peer Support in Addiction Recovery: Why It Works
Peer support is used in addiction recovery because it works. An article in the British Journal of Social Work from 2024 concluded that peer support is a “key instrument and premise for building motivation for change.”
A 2008 study found that people who engaged in a peer support programme had a significant reduction in the risk of relapsing. A 2016 study concluded that peer support in addiction treatment showed much promise.
These groups are used and promoted almost universally by rehabs because they help people maintain sobriety and enjoy a better quality of life. The psychological mechanisms used in peer support are why they succeed.
Peer support is effective because it rewards empathy, social reinforcement and vulnerability. It helps you to look outwards, listen better, and speak more honestly and clearly. Doing these things scientifically contributes to living well.
Challenges of Peer Support and How to Overcome Them
Peer support isn’t without its challenges. What’s important when thinking about doing peer support is knowing what the challenges are and how to navigate around them.
Trigger Situations
Peer support is helpful, but you could be exposed to triggering situations that may risk a relapse. It’s important to know your triggers, practice self-care, and be clear about your boundaries to overcome these risky situations.
Co-dependency
Co-dependency is an unhealthy attachment to someone or a relationship. Being around new people who understand you, you may become attached to someone or vice versa. If this is the case, you need to respect personal boundaries, set your own and communicate them. Individual therapy might be needed as co-dependency is something that can lead you back to addiction.
Boundaries
Boundaries are key. You’re not with professionals in peer support, just people like you. Healthy boundaries should be set out and communicated from the start. Be assertive with your communication, and remember to respect other people’s boundaries.
Incorporating Peer Support into Your Recovery Journey
It can seem scary to bring people into your world or reach out to others. Once in the recovery process, it is very easy to incorporate peer support into your journey without affecting your rehabilitation.
You can search online to find an array of support groups. There is no commitment, so do your research and find the one that suits you best. Resources, alongside the internet, such as your GP and library, will have information about local groups you could join.
Even if you feel intimidated, it’s important to try out a meeting. If you don’t like it, then try something else. Maybe take someone with you, and you might find yourself leaving them at the door. What’s crucial is that you try and take that first step – the more you try, the easier it will eventually become.
Find Addiction Recovery Support Now
Peer support is an important aspect of residential addiction treatment. It can continue long after you leave rehab and be a source of strength throughout your recovery journey.
For more information on how we at Rehab Clinics Group can help you, call today at 0800 470 0382 or text HELP to 83222.
