Tennessee Recovery Navigators: Connecting Patients to Treatment From Hospital Emergency Departments

After a non-fatal overdose, the next stop is the emergency department (ED) ― place where a person who nearly lost their life may be met with shame, disappointment, and fear. By implementing peers who are in long-term recovery there is an opportunity to meet with individuals who have recently overdosed or who have been identified as having a substance use disorder (SUD) and immediately break the barrier of stigma. Tennessee Recovery Navigators create a connection through like experiences and works with the individual on connecting to a treatment modality or resource.

This session will give an overview of how Tennessee has used peers in recovery in EDs to connect individuals living with SUD to treatment. This will include the steps to build partnerships with local EDs and community treatment providers, as well as how to follow up with the individuals that are served. It will also include important things to include for programs like this, such as, supervision for peers, boundary setting, and utilizing existing resources.