A BSTRACT Background: Substance use disorder (SUD) treatment often faces challenges such as low patient motivation, high relapse rates, and poor engagement. Traditional addiction treatment methods may not adequately address the emotional and social needs of individuals in recovery. Peer-supported therapy (PST) offers a community-based alternative by leveraging the lived experiences of recovered individuals. Aims and Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of PST in addiction recovery by examining its impact on motivation, relapse prevention, and patient engagement. The objective was to determine whether integrating peer support into conventional treatment models could address the limitations of standard care and promote sustainable recovery. Materials and Methods: An experimental study was conducted with 200 adults diagnosed with SUD, randomly assigned to either a PST intervention group or a control group receiving conventional therapy (CT). The PST group participated in bi-weekly sessions led by certified peer facilitators. Quantitative data were collected using the Motivation for Treatment Scale (MTS) and Patient Engagement Scale (PES), with relapse rates tracked over six months. Repeated measures ANOVA and Chi-square tests were used for statistical analysis. Additionally, qualitative data were obtained from semi-structured interviews with 25 PST participants and analyzed thematically. Results: Participants in the PST group exhibited a 38% increase in motivation scores (MTS) compared to a 14% increase in the CT group ( P < 0.01). Patient engagement scores (PES) were 42% higher in the PST group ( P < 0.05). Relapse rates in the PST group were 17% compared to 34% in the CT group ( P < 0.01). Qualitative findings revealed themes of empowerment, social accountability, emotional resilience, and a supportive recovery environment. Conclusion: Peer-supported therapy significantly enhances motivation, reduces relapse rates, and improves engagement in addiction recovery. The results support the integration of PST into conventional addiction treatment programs, with further research recommended to evaluate its scalability and effectiveness in varied populations and settings.
Kashish Bansal (Tue,) studied this question.