ArticleHealth & justice2025
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.
Article in Health & justice, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Perspectives on collaboration between drug courts and MOUD providers: Impact of interagency implementation strategies.Drug and alcohol dependence · 2026Article
- Implementing a peer navigation program for individuals with serious mental illness in the criminal legal system: insights and lessons learned.Pilot and feasibility studies · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundSubstance 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.
resultsThis 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.
conclusionThis 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.
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Registered trials
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