The effect of peer recovery support services on maintained sobriety in individuals with alcohol use disorder in early recovery

Abstract

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) remains a major public health concern in the USA. Prevalence of AUD has remained relatively steady, and relapse rates stay high. Evidence shows that most relapse episodes occur within the first 90 to 100 days after initial abstinence, with relapse rates declining substantially afterward. Research consistently demonstrated that individuals engaged in peer support activities are more likely to maintain recovery or reduce alcohol use. Several factors unrelated to drinking behavior have been identified as contributors to maintained recovery. However, there is limited quantitative research exploring how participation in Peer Recovery Support Services (PRSS) influences drinking behavior during early recovery. This quantitative, correlational study examined whether PRSS participation decreases the number of Alcohol use episodes among individuals with AUD during the first 90 days after discharge from Inpatient treatment. The study also investigates whether Motivation, Self-efficacy, and Social Connectedness mediate this effect. Participants included individuals who had reached at least 90 days post-discharge from Intensive Inpatient treatment. They were recruited from Inpatient and Outpatient treatment settings, recovery organizations, and nonprofit programs, using purposive sampling. A mixed-model regression method incorporating both ordinary least squares (OLS) and negative binomial regression analyses was employed to explore the relationship between PRSS participation and Alcohol use episodes, including Motivation, Self-Efficacy, and Social Connectedness as mediator variables. Although mediator variables did not significantly explain this relationship, participation in PRSS showed a significant direct effect on decreasing Alcohol use episodes. The findings from this study could inform the development of integrated treatment models that combine PRSS with other approaches to further enhance overall treatment effectiveness.