Peer Recovery Support Services in Canada

Substance use disorders are a global issue affecting millions of people, including Canadians. There are various forms of treatment, with Peer Recovery Support Services (PRSS) quickly gaining in popularity. PRSS are peer-based mentoring programs that provide encouragement and support to help individuals on their path to recovery. PRSS originated in the United States but have been adopted and adapted in many other countries and regions around the world (Puschner, 2018). In Canada, PRSS have gained in popularity through the promotion of peer support by the Mental Health Commission of Canada and Peer Support Canada. With the increasing recognition and utilization of PRSS in Canada, it is vital to determine the effectiveness of these services for people in recovery from substance use disorders. Moreover, it is critical to evaluate the economic impact of these services to determine whether PRSS could be integrated into a wide range of clinical settings (Elliott et al., 2021). Through a systematic review, current available information relating to PRSS in Canada will be reviewed in terms of services being offered, workforce development, as well as the economic impact of PRSS in this country. This review is complementary to a systematic review currently underway in the United States with the same goals and aims (similar to Bassuk et al., 2016).