“A peer support worker can really be there supporting the youth throughout the whole process”: a qualitative study exploring the role of peer support in providing substance use services to youth
Abstract Background Youth (ages 12–24) rarely access services and supports to address substance use concerns. Peer support can facilitate service engagement and has been associated with positive substance use recovery outcomes in adults, yet few studies have examined this role among youth specifical...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Harm Reduction Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-023-00853-3 |
| _version_ | 1797453408048775168 |
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| author | Roxanne Turuba Ciara Toddington Miranda Tymoschuk Anurada Amarasekera Amanda Madeleine Howard Violet Brockmann Corinne Tallon Sarah Irving Steve Mathias J. L. Henderson Skye Barbic |
| author_facet | Roxanne Turuba Ciara Toddington Miranda Tymoschuk Anurada Amarasekera Amanda Madeleine Howard Violet Brockmann Corinne Tallon Sarah Irving Steve Mathias J. L. Henderson Skye Barbic |
| author_sort | Roxanne Turuba |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Youth (ages 12–24) rarely access services and supports to address substance use concerns. Peer support can facilitate service engagement and has been associated with positive substance use recovery outcomes in adults, yet few studies have examined this role among youth specifically. As such, this qualitative study explored the role of peer support in providing substance use services to youth in British Columbia and how best to support them in their role. Methods Participatory action research methods were used by partnering with youth who had lived/living experience of substance use, including peer support workers, to co-design the research protocol and materials. An initial focus group and subsequent interviews were held with 18 peer support workers who provide services to youth (ages 12–24) based on their own lived experience with mental health and/or substance use. The discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed thematically using an inductive approach. Results Peer support workers' core experiences providing substance use services to youth centred around supporting youth throughout the whole process. This was accomplished by meeting youth where they are at, providing individualized care, and bridging the gap between other services and supports. However, participants experienced multiple organizational barriers hindering their ability to support youth and stressed the importance of having an employer who understands the work you are doing. This involved having someone advocating for the peer support role to promote collaboration, empowering peers to set boundaries and define their own role, and providing adequate training and mentorship. Finally, peer support workers described how their lived experience bridges connection and de-stigmatization at the individual, organizational, and community level, which was unique to their role. Conclusions Peer support plays a unique role in youths’ substance use journeys, given their own lived experience and flexibility within their role. However, their position is often misunderstood by employers and other service providers, leaving peers with inadequate support, training, and mentorship to do their job. The findings from this study call for improved integration of peer support into service environments, as well as standardized training that is in-depth and continuous. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:22:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5c0c0d39ab654d55a0f4f306a3017552 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1477-7517 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:22:23Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Harm Reduction Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-5c0c0d39ab654d55a0f4f306a30175522023-11-26T12:44:49ZengBMCHarm Reduction Journal1477-75172023-08-0120111110.1186/s12954-023-00853-3“A peer support worker can really be there supporting the youth throughout the whole process”: a qualitative study exploring the role of peer support in providing substance use services to youthRoxanne Turuba0Ciara Toddington1Miranda Tymoschuk2Anurada Amarasekera3Amanda Madeleine Howard4Violet Brockmann5Corinne Tallon6Sarah Irving7Steve Mathias8J. L. Henderson9Skye Barbic10FoundryFoundryFoundryFoundryFoundryFoundryFoundryFoundryFoundryCentre for Addiction and Mental HealthFoundryAbstract Background Youth (ages 12–24) rarely access services and supports to address substance use concerns. Peer support can facilitate service engagement and has been associated with positive substance use recovery outcomes in adults, yet few studies have examined this role among youth specifically. As such, this qualitative study explored the role of peer support in providing substance use services to youth in British Columbia and how best to support them in their role. Methods Participatory action research methods were used by partnering with youth who had lived/living experience of substance use, including peer support workers, to co-design the research protocol and materials. An initial focus group and subsequent interviews were held with 18 peer support workers who provide services to youth (ages 12–24) based on their own lived experience with mental health and/or substance use. The discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed thematically using an inductive approach. Results Peer support workers' core experiences providing substance use services to youth centred around supporting youth throughout the whole process. This was accomplished by meeting youth where they are at, providing individualized care, and bridging the gap between other services and supports. However, participants experienced multiple organizational barriers hindering their ability to support youth and stressed the importance of having an employer who understands the work you are doing. This involved having someone advocating for the peer support role to promote collaboration, empowering peers to set boundaries and define their own role, and providing adequate training and mentorship. Finally, peer support workers described how their lived experience bridges connection and de-stigmatization at the individual, organizational, and community level, which was unique to their role. Conclusions Peer support plays a unique role in youths’ substance use journeys, given their own lived experience and flexibility within their role. However, their position is often misunderstood by employers and other service providers, leaving peers with inadequate support, training, and mentorship to do their job. The findings from this study call for improved integration of peer support into service environments, as well as standardized training that is in-depth and continuous.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-023-00853-3Peer supportYouthAdolescentsYoung adultsSubstance useQualitative research |
| spellingShingle | Roxanne Turuba Ciara Toddington Miranda Tymoschuk Anurada Amarasekera Amanda Madeleine Howard Violet Brockmann Corinne Tallon Sarah Irving Steve Mathias J. L. Henderson Skye Barbic “A peer support worker can really be there supporting the youth throughout the whole process”: a qualitative study exploring the role of peer support in providing substance use services to youth Harm Reduction Journal Peer support Youth Adolescents Young adults Substance use Qualitative research |
| title | “A peer support worker can really be there supporting the youth throughout the whole process”: a qualitative study exploring the role of peer support in providing substance use services to youth |
| title_full | “A peer support worker can really be there supporting the youth throughout the whole process”: a qualitative study exploring the role of peer support in providing substance use services to youth |
| title_fullStr | “A peer support worker can really be there supporting the youth throughout the whole process”: a qualitative study exploring the role of peer support in providing substance use services to youth |
| title_full_unstemmed | “A peer support worker can really be there supporting the youth throughout the whole process”: a qualitative study exploring the role of peer support in providing substance use services to youth |
| title_short | “A peer support worker can really be there supporting the youth throughout the whole process”: a qualitative study exploring the role of peer support in providing substance use services to youth |
| title_sort | a peer support worker can really be there supporting the youth throughout the whole process a qualitative study exploring the role of peer support in providing substance use services to youth |
| topic | Peer support Youth Adolescents Young adults Substance use Qualitative research |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-023-00853-3 |
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