Clinical/Public Health

Lessons Learned: Improving Outcomes for Persons with Stimulant-Involved Substance Use Disorder using Peer Recovery Support Services

Wednesday, November 2, 2022

12:45 PM – 1:45 PM

Presenter(s)

Sydney M. Silverstein, PhD

Evaluator and Research Partner
Public Health Dayton & Montgomery County (OH) (PHDMC)
Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine
Columbus, Ohio
J. Gary Gonnella, LICDC-CS, GAMB, LPC, LSW (he/him/his)

Outreach Supervisor Public Health
Public Health Dayton Montgomery County
Sinclair Community College
West Alexandria, Ohio
Tiffany Lombardo, MA, LISW-S, LICDC-CS (she/her/hers)

Project Director & Senior Substance Use Disorder Recovery Specialist
ALTARUM
Arlington, Virginia

Overdose (OD) and substance use disorder (SUD) rates have spiked nationwide since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly those involving stimulants. Programs across the nation are leveraging Peer Recovery Support Services (PRSS) to intervene. In this panel, the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s (BJA) Peer Recovery Technical Assistance provider (Altarum) will facilitate a discussion among several successful BJA grantees who are using PRSS to address the rising rates of SUD and OD. Grantees will discuss the role Peer Recovery plays to significantly reduce overdose and stimulant use at several points across the criminal justice intercepts including: community services, jails/courts, and community corrections.

Learning Objectives:

Review the benefits of Peer Recovery Support Services (PRSS) and what national programs have been implementing them.
Discuss the role Peer Recovery plays to significantly reduce overdose and stimulant use at several points across the criminal justice system.
Review the recent changes in rates of overdose (OD), specifically with stimulants, in the Dayton, Ohio metropolitan area (Montgomery County).
Review the history and structure of the local Public Health Recovery Outreach program in Montgomery County, and the role of peer support services in addressing the ongoing crisis of substance use disorder (SUD) and OD.
Discuss some of the challenges to peer support work amid the increase in stimulant usage and provide suggestions for doing this work mindfully.