IMPACT OF PEER SUPPORT ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF SUBSTANCE-RELATED DISORDERS: A SCOPING REVIEW

Abstract

Approximately 275 million people worldwide use drugs, with around 32 million experiencing substance use disorders (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime [UNODC], 2022). Peer support–based interventions, in which individuals draw on their lived experiences to support others in recovery, have emerged as a promising approach. Addressing a gap in the literature, this scoping review examines the role and relevance of peer support in the treatment of substance use disorders. The review included six carefully selected randomized controlled trials, conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. The included studies investigated peer support–based interventions for substance use disorders. Overall, the findings indicate positive post-intervention outcomes, particularly with regard to improved treatment adherence. However, reductions in substance use were not consistently observed across studies. Given the limited number of articles and the complexity of substance use disorders, the results highlight the need for broader reviews that incorporate diverse study designs. This review reinforces the multifaceted nature of interventions in this field and points to the potential of peer support as a complementary strategy to enhance treatment outcomes.