Navigating barriers and embracing facilitators of connection: insights from peer recovery specialists working with individuals with substance use disorder and criminal justice involvement: a qualitative analysis
Abstract Background Substance use disorder affects over half of incarcerated individuals, with 23% experiencing opioid use disorder specifically. Addressing opioid use disorder in jails is crucial due to its association with increased recidivism and overdose. This study investigates the experiences...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Health & Justice |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40352-024-00300-w |
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| author | Rebecca Sutter-Barrett Nancy R.B. Spencer Nora Elnahas Rebecca Hurd Margaret Delaney Aman Bivens |
| author_facet | Rebecca Sutter-Barrett Nancy R.B. Spencer Nora Elnahas Rebecca Hurd Margaret Delaney Aman Bivens |
| author_sort | Rebecca Sutter-Barrett |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Substance use disorder affects over half of incarcerated individuals, with 23% experiencing opioid use disorder specifically. Addressing opioid use disorder in jails is crucial due to its association with increased recidivism and overdose. This study investigates the experiences of peer recovery specialists working with individuals with opioid use disorder and criminal justice involvement, focusing on barriers and facilitators to client connections. Qualitative interviews were conducted and thematically analyzed using a hybrid inductive and deductive coding approach. The sample involved five peer recovery specialists, who were interviewed multiple times, across three sites in Virginia between August 2022 to December 2023. Results This analysis categorized findings into two main domains: barriers to connection and facilitators of connection. Within the barriers to connection, six themes emerged: jail specific restrictions, client in withdrawal, social determinants of health insecurities, lack of client engagement, disconnection, and adverse peer recovery experience. Jail-specific restrictions was the most common barrier to connection with 91.30% of transcripts referencing at least one code for jail-specific restrictions; 73.91% of all transcripts indicated social determinants of health insecurities; 56.52% of all peer recovery specialist transcripts experienced clients in withdrawal; 52.17% of all transcripts identified lack of client engagement; 43.48% of all transcripts identified disconnection as a barrier; and 34.78% of all transcripts indicated adverse peer recovery specialist experiences. Three themes were identified as facilitators of connection: peer communication skills, connection to services, and positive peer recovery specialist experience. Peer communication skills were by far the most prominent, with 100% of all transcripts indicating a code related to peer communication skills; 60.87% of all transcripts indicated positive peer recovery specialist experience; and 56.52% of all transcripts identified connection to services as a facilitator. Notable discrepancies in code frequency were observed across different sites, suggesting site specific challenges. Conclusion This study offers valuable insights into enhancing peer-based support programs within the justice system for individuals with opioid use disorder. Barriers such as jail specific restrictions, client withdrawal, and social determinants of health insecurities pose significant challenges, while effective communication emerges as a critical facilitator. Findings emphasize the need for collaborative efforts between justice and recovery partners to optimize the impact of peer-based support services. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6935fd27a0514590982093385616a7a5 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2194-7899 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health & Justice |
| spelling | doaj-art-6935fd27a0514590982093385616a7a52025-02-02T12:12:54ZengBMCHealth & Justice2194-78992025-01-0113111410.1186/s40352-024-00300-wNavigating barriers and embracing facilitators of connection: insights from peer recovery specialists working with individuals with substance use disorder and criminal justice involvement: a qualitative analysisRebecca Sutter-Barrett0Nancy R.B. Spencer1Nora Elnahas2Rebecca Hurd3Margaret Delaney4Aman Bivens5George Mason UniversityGeorge Mason UniversityGeorge Mason UniversityGeorge Mason UniversityGeorge Mason UniversityGeorge Mason UniversityAbstract Background Substance use disorder affects over half of incarcerated individuals, with 23% experiencing opioid use disorder specifically. Addressing opioid use disorder in jails is crucial due to its association with increased recidivism and overdose. This study investigates the experiences of peer recovery specialists working with individuals with opioid use disorder and criminal justice involvement, focusing on barriers and facilitators to client connections. Qualitative interviews were conducted and thematically analyzed using a hybrid inductive and deductive coding approach. The sample involved five peer recovery specialists, who were interviewed multiple times, across three sites in Virginia between August 2022 to December 2023. Results This analysis categorized findings into two main domains: barriers to connection and facilitators of connection. Within the barriers to connection, six themes emerged: jail specific restrictions, client in withdrawal, social determinants of health insecurities, lack of client engagement, disconnection, and adverse peer recovery experience. Jail-specific restrictions was the most common barrier to connection with 91.30% of transcripts referencing at least one code for jail-specific restrictions; 73.91% of all transcripts indicated social determinants of health insecurities; 56.52% of all peer recovery specialist transcripts experienced clients in withdrawal; 52.17% of all transcripts identified lack of client engagement; 43.48% of all transcripts identified disconnection as a barrier; and 34.78% of all transcripts indicated adverse peer recovery specialist experiences. Three themes were identified as facilitators of connection: peer communication skills, connection to services, and positive peer recovery specialist experience. Peer communication skills were by far the most prominent, with 100% of all transcripts indicating a code related to peer communication skills; 60.87% of all transcripts indicated positive peer recovery specialist experience; and 56.52% of all transcripts identified connection to services as a facilitator. Notable discrepancies in code frequency were observed across different sites, suggesting site specific challenges. Conclusion This study offers valuable insights into enhancing peer-based support programs within the justice system for individuals with opioid use disorder. Barriers such as jail specific restrictions, client withdrawal, and social determinants of health insecurities pose significant challenges, while effective communication emerges as a critical facilitator. Findings emphasize the need for collaborative efforts between justice and recovery partners to optimize the impact of peer-based support services.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40352-024-00300-wPeer RecoveryPeer SupportReentryOpioid Use DisorderCriminal JusticeJail |
| spellingShingle | Rebecca Sutter-Barrett Nancy R.B. Spencer Nora Elnahas Rebecca Hurd Margaret Delaney Aman Bivens Navigating barriers and embracing facilitators of connection: insights from peer recovery specialists working with individuals with substance use disorder and criminal justice involvement: a qualitative analysis Health & Justice Peer Recovery Peer Support Reentry Opioid Use Disorder Criminal Justice Jail |
| title | Navigating barriers and embracing facilitators of connection: insights from peer recovery specialists working with individuals with substance use disorder and criminal justice involvement: a qualitative analysis |
| title_full | Navigating barriers and embracing facilitators of connection: insights from peer recovery specialists working with individuals with substance use disorder and criminal justice involvement: a qualitative analysis |
| title_fullStr | Navigating barriers and embracing facilitators of connection: insights from peer recovery specialists working with individuals with substance use disorder and criminal justice involvement: a qualitative analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Navigating barriers and embracing facilitators of connection: insights from peer recovery specialists working with individuals with substance use disorder and criminal justice involvement: a qualitative analysis |
| title_short | Navigating barriers and embracing facilitators of connection: insights from peer recovery specialists working with individuals with substance use disorder and criminal justice involvement: a qualitative analysis |
| title_sort | navigating barriers and embracing facilitators of connection insights from peer recovery specialists working with individuals with substance use disorder and criminal justice involvement a qualitative analysis |
| topic | Peer Recovery Peer Support Reentry Opioid Use Disorder Criminal Justice Jail |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40352-024-00300-w |
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