Feasibility and Usefulness of the Peer-Run Course “Recovery Is Up to You” for People with Addiction Problems: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

“Recovery Is Up to You,” a 12-week peer-run group experience for persons with major psychiatric problems, has had positive effects on important elements of recovery: empowerment, hope, and self-efficacy beliefs. Determining if such an experience would be equally efficacious for persons with addiction problems is the focus of this study. The 12-week course was experienced by eight groups of persons with addiction problems and the outcome, measured in terms of the response of participants and of the group leaders, was a favorable one as the course was found to be supportive of the recovery process, providing the participants and peer group leaders alike with new perspectives on meaningful living.

KEYWORDS:

• Peer-run course
• recovery
• addiction
• addiction care

Notes

The study was made possible by a grant of the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development.