Peer-Based Recovery Innovations in Addiction

Over the past two decades, there has been a growing emphasis on recovery-oriented approaches to substance use disorders, particularly those that move beyond deficit-based models and instead prioritise strengths, social connection, and lived experience. Peer-based recovery approaches—delivered by individuals with lived experience of addiction—have emerged as a central component of these developments. These approaches often involve processes of social learning, mutual support, and community engagement, and have shown promise in improving long-term recovery outcomes. However, despite rapid innovation in both practice and theory, empirical evaluation has often lagged behind, and there remains a need to better understand the effectiveness, implementation, and broader public health impact of these models.This Research Topic specifically focuses on peer-led and co-produced recovery approaches, distinguishing it from broader recovery science by emphasising lived experience, participatory methods, and community-based intervention models. It aims to bring together international contributions that examine how peer-based approaches are designed, delivered, and evaluated across a range of settings, including community services, residential programmes, and justice-involved populations.The goal of this Research Topic is to explore both the application of conceptual models of addiction recovery and desistance, and their measurable impact on substance use outcomes, individuals, families, and communities. Particular attention will be given to studies that integrate lived experience into service delivery, workforce development, and research design, as well as those that assess capacity building within recovery communities. A strong public health perspective is encouraged, with interest in research that demonstrates the wider societal benefits of recovery-oriented interventions, including reductions in harm, improvements in wellbeing, and enhanced social inclusion.Suitable themes for manuscripts include, but are not limited to:• Evaluations of peer-based recovery interventions in community, residential, and justice settings; • Studies examining peer-led models of care, including mutual aid and recovery community organisations; • Co-produced and participatory research approaches involving individuals with lived experience; • Workforce development and capacity building within peer support and lived experience roles; • The impact of peer-based recovery initiatives on substance use outcomes, relapse prevention, and long-term recovery trajectories; • Public health and policy implications of scaling peer-based recovery models. Topic editors: David Best, Jason B Colditz Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/78762/peer-based-recovery-innovations-in-addiction