A Qualitative Analysis of Organizational Practices to Support Peer Support Workers in The Substance Use Disorder Recovery Field

Peer support workers (PSWs) play a key role in the substance use disorder (SUD) recovery field. According to organizational support theory, organizational actions and policies are key factors that promote perceived support and positive job-related outcomes. However, limited qualitative research has examined the construct of perceived organizational support from the perspective of PSWs working in the SUD recovery field. This study sought to determine what organizational actions and policies are perceived as supportive for PSWs. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 25 PSWs actively working in the recovery field in South Carolina. Participants were asked "How does your employer or organization support you in the work that you do?" and "How could your organization support you better?" Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. A team-based, rapid qualitative analysis approach was used to analyze data. Themes were identified and mapped onto existing guidelines for incorporation of PSWs into addiction medicine settings. PSWs reported that organizations can foster organizational support for PSWs through valuing PSWs as people with lived experiences. PSWs noted important supports such as living wages, insurance, job-related resources, and high-quality training and supervision. In addition, PSWs described how autonomy and reduced workload enable PSWs to optimize their time. Implications for organizations employing PSWs and recommended best practices are discussed.