MUSC & FAVOR Greenville Project ECHO: Peer Recovery Support Specialists

The ECHO provides telementoring support to current and future peers across the state of South Carolina. Our ECHO sessions feature brief, user-driven didactic content relevant to peers, delivered by peer leaders and experts in the treatment of substance use disorders. However, at the heart of the Peers ECHO is the network of peers, counselors, social workers, and prescribers working together to support each other in treating addiction in their communities. Peer support is a valuable addition to the continuum of care for the treatment of substance use disorders. Utilization of peers is growing across the nation and are employed in a variety of settings including emergency departments, hospitals, substance use recovery programs, and many other settings. Peer recovery support specialists are people who have both experienced addiction and stable recovery who assist others experiencing similar situations. Research has demonstrated that peer support reduces the use of illicit substances and relapse rates, increases treatment retention, and improves relationships with providers and social supports.