Peer Recovery Specialists offer healing power of purpose
Carilion Clinic peer recovery specialists, emergency physicians discuss role of counselors in substance use recovery at VACEP ‘23
Every day, emergency physicians stabilize patients before putting them in the hands of the right specialists. When the case is a heart attack, the patient moves along to the cardiac wing.
But what happens with a patient who is suffering from substance use disorder? And whom is likely experiencing a mental health condition?
Fortunately, today’s emergency teams have a new resource to involve in what is often a long-term need: Certified peer recovery specialists (CPRS), working in tandem with healthcare providers such as emergency physicians.
Perkins
The growing role of peer counselors as partners in providing specialized services was addressed during a panel at VACEP’s 53rd Annual CME Conference in Williamsburg in February. The counselors’ emergence dovetails with healthcare’s recognition of substance use disorder (and its relapses) as a medical condition.
“Peer recovery specialists are part of the healthcare team, but more so than that: I see them as experts in addiction medicine,” says Jack Perkins, MD, FACEP, who practices emergency medicine at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. “I don’t have that kind of expertise, and I can’t connect on that level with a patient or develop an ongoing relationship with them, which is important for long-term care.”
Meeting patients where they are
Hunt
CPRSs are trained to connect one-on-one with patients suffering from substance use disorders or individuals who are struggling. They can relate personally to what leads patients down that road and why it’s difficult to turn around their lives. They ask questions and guide patients onto a different road.
Kimberly Hunt, a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, understands. In 2007, she fell into the wrong crowd and was introduced to heroin. She became hooked. Her addiction followed her through college, killed her basketball dream and eventually ran rampant over her life, with legal troubles and multiple rehabilitation attempts.
Methadone and suboxone maintenance, used to treat opioid addiction, became part of her journey. After ups and downs, Hunt finally found recovery in 2012 without any medications. Her psychiatrist observed her growth and recommended she share her firsthand experience and struggles to help others. Hunt took the 72-hour state-sponsored training, followed by 500 hours of supervised practice before passing the certification board exam to become a CPRS.
What is a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist?
A certified Peer Recovery Specialist (PRS or CPRS) is a self-identified person with lived experience with a mental health and/or addiction condition who is in successful and ongoing recovery from mental health and/or addiction challenges. Peer Recovery Specialists use their lived experience to support another person’s recovery journey.
On the job, Hunt meets patients in the Emergency Department. “You are there non-judgmentally, and you see them for who they are,” she says. “You are supporting them as a human, and you build a rapport where they feel comfortable reaching out. I love watching my patients learn to advocate for themselves, to learn what’s going on with them and then ask questions.”
The program has been rewarding to Hunt, who feels a sense of purpose and regained confidence.
Peer recovery can bridge gaps
Ickes
As part of comprehensive medical services today, peer recovery specialists can help bridge gaps, particularly as many patients often are dealing with problems related to both addiction and mental health. While emergency physicians deal with immediate medical issues, CPRS can help patients understand where they are in their struggle and where to find the resources for long-term recovery. In Carilion’s ED bridge to treatment for opioid use disorder program, the likelihood of reaching the outpatient provider was two times more likely with a CPRS contact in the ED.
“Emergency physicians know probably more than anyone how much substance abuse impacts people’s lives,” says Anne Ickes, DO, an emergency medicine-trained addiction medicine fellow at Carilion. “My passion is to improve access to care for these patients and decrease the barriers. Having those champions in the EDs for these patients is very important.”
‘Don’t know where I’d be without peer recovery’
After self-medicating with cocaine for bipolar disorder, Redina Davis has been clean for seven years. During a recovery session, as the mother of three continued to battle depression, she admitted she still thought of using drugs. The counselor stopped, left the room and returned with Hunt. Now, the two meet most weeks, with Hunt asking if Davis is still taking prescribed medications and discussing her life.
“Somewhere out there is someone who had been in the same boat that I’d been in, who could share experiences and help me on a daily basis,” Davis says. “I don’t know where I would be today without peer recovery.”
Additional resources
Carilion’s Bridge evolves into opioid treatment model (Roanoke Times, April 3, 2023)
