Peer Recovery Specialist

Lived Experience Supporting Recovery and Community Wellness

What is a Peer Recovery Specialist?

A Peer recovery specialist is a trained professional who uses their personal recovery experience to support others who are working toward recovery from substance use or behavioral health challenges.

Peer recovery specialists serve as mentors, advocates, and role models who demonstrate that recovery is possible.

They often work in a variety of settings, including:

• Substance use treatment programs
• Community behavioral health organizations
• Recovery community centers
• Hospitals and health care systems
• Reentry and justice programs
• Housing and recovery residence programs
• Peer-run organizations

Peer recovery specialists help individuals navigate complex systems and build stronger recovery support networks.

Core Responsibilities

Peer recovery specialists provide non-clinical support services that complement treatment and recovery programs.

Their work often includes:

Recovery Mentoring
Providing encouragement and guidance based on personal recovery experience.

Advocacy
Helping individuals advocate for their needs within healthcare, treatment, and social service systems.

Resource Navigation
Connecting individuals to housing, employment, healthcare, and community resources.

Recovery Planning
Supporting individuals in setting and achieving personal recovery goals.

Community Engagement
Encouraging participation in recovery support groups and community-based recovery activities.

Crisis Support and Relapse Prevention
Helping individuals develop strategies to manage challenges and maintain recovery.

The Value of Peer Support

Research shows that peer support services can significantly improve recovery outcomes.

Peer recovery specialists help:

• Increase engagement in treatment programs
• Improve retention in recovery services
• Reduce relapse rates
• Strengthen recovery support networks
• Promote long-term recovery and community reintegration

Peer support services are increasingly recognized as an essential component of comprehensive behavioral health care systems.

Peer Support and the Future of Behavioral Health

Peer recovery specialists are transforming behavioral health systems by integrating lived experience into care models. Their work helps create recovery-oriented systems that prioritize dignity, empowerment, and community connection.

As behavioral health systems evolve, the role of peer professionals continues to expand across healthcare, treatment, housing, justice, and community services.

NBHAP is committed to advancing the peer workforce and supporting the individuals who make recovery possible every day.

Get Involved

NBHAP welcomes individuals and organizations interested in strengthening the peer recovery workforce.

Whether you are beginning your journey in recovery support or expanding your leadership in the field, NBHAP offers training, education, and collaboration opportunities to support your work.

Together, we can strengthen recovery support systems and improve behavioral health outcomes nationwide.

Benefits

For only $50 a year, Peer Recovery Specialist members in NBHAP get the following benefits:

• free subscription to Counselor, the official magazine of NBHAP
• free webinars, many CE-based (does not include our C-ATM courses)
25% off our publications
• access to our Legal Repository and list of state FAQs

And more!