Peer support involves getting help from someone who has their own experiences of using drugs.
Currently, most peer support workers who provide support for people using drugs are based within addiction services (e.g. residential treatment/rehab). These peers have gone through their own journey of recovery and are often no longer using drugs. They draw on their experience to role model and help others through their recovery journeys.
There is also a growing number of peers in harm reduction services like drug checking and the needle exchange who provide information and support to help other people be safer.
How could it be helpful?
Peer support is often versatile and fits into the specific service it is part of. Depending on who they work for, a peer support worker could help you find employment, education, social support, provide advice and mentoring, or give specific information to be safer.
Peers are a valued and essential part of Aotearoa’s support system for people who use drugs. Many people who have made changes in their own life find working as a peer to support other people very meaningful and rewarding.
How to access?
Because peer support workers are usually working within other organisations, your best option is to talk to the organisation and ask if they offer peer support. You can also use Healthpoint to help find organisations that offer this. Some hospital emergency departments will also have mental health and addictions peer support workers that you can ask to see while you are there.
If you are using a drug checking or needle exchange service, then you will most likely be talking to a peer as well.
Real experiences
"Having a mentor has really helped me because it's someone I can speak to when I'm going through things and I don't know how to navigate them, you know. There's certain times in my recovery where I felt like relapsing and just having someone that I could call during those moments has been so helpful to me in staying clean."
- Dylan
“I feel so comfortable using drug checking. The staff are always really lovely and don’t judge me because most have had their own experiences. They’ve also got some really great advice to make sure I don’t do anything too risky.”
- Anon