Peer Workers in Alcohol and Drug Services

Hi, I'm wondering if anyone here has experienced peer work in AoD servcies and what that looked like? AA and NA have been involved in this for almost a centuary, but other than that, here in my part of queensland it doesn't seem to be happening within either clinical or community services. I have been trying to address this. i'm not too sure how I'm doing, but will carry on anyway 😉

I have a lived experience of both mh and aod issues. they go hand in hand for many people, yet current feedback and exerience has informed me that if you so much as even mention that you may have smoked a joint last week end when you present as a suicide to ED, well theres no room for you at the mh inn so to speak.

Apart from this, and lets face it theres no room in mh servces for people who have never used any drugs a lot of the time too, I also firmly beleive and witness daily the strengths and effectiveness that experienced peer support can add to aod services.

What are peoples thoughts on this? Is it just qld that doesnt value peer work in aod ? can anyone point me in the direction of succsessful services or groups that are contributing in this way to peoples recovery?

Thanks 🙂