School of Applied Psychology, Mount Gravatt Campus, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4122, Australia.
Griffith Centre for Mental Health, Griffith University, Mount Gravatt, QLD 4122, Australia.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2024 Aug 30;21(9):1152. doi: 10.3390/ijerph21091152.
Peers in the alcohol and other drug sectors possess lived-living experience (LLE) crucial for shaping community care. However, genuine consumer collaboration is often confounded by stigma. This study examined peers' perceptions, exploring their experiences regarding workforce dynamics, policy implications, and impacts on health equity. In presenting the research, we sought to synthesise the research methods and illustrate the methodological innovation and knowledge production in substance use research through authentic collaboration.
We purposively sampled peer networks and community organisations, involving peer-researchers in planning, design, and analysis. We conducted semi-structured digital interviews with 18 peers and applied iterative coding to analyse the data.
This collaborative process provided nuanced insights into sectoral challenges. Peers expressed emotional strain revisiting personal substance use experiences, blurring personal and professional boundaries. Tokenistic peer involvement critiques underscored the need for genuine leadership and organisational support.
We advocate for a shift towards equitable and inclusive policy development through both organisational and systemic restructuring. However, these changes are hamstrung by broader policy frameworks, which require a shift to peer-led principles, ensuring the expertise of peers is genuinely valued. Policymakers should invest in expanding peer frameworks, acknowledging the diversity within communities of people who use drugs to improve health equity and public health outcomes. This innovative approach to substance use research emphasises the transformative impact of integrating LLE into research.
酒精和其他药物领域的同行拥有对塑造社区关怀至关重要的生活经验（LLE）。然而，真正的消费者合作常常受到耻辱感的阻碍。本研究考察了同行的看法，探讨了他们在劳动力动态、政策影响以及对健康公平的影响方面的经验。在呈现研究结果时，我们试图通过真实的合作来综合研究方法，并展示物质使用研究中的方法创新和知识生产。
我们有目的地对同行网络和社区组织进行了抽样，让同行研究人员参与规划、设计和分析。我们对 18 名同行进行了半结构式数字访谈，并对数据进行了迭代编码分析。
这一合作过程深入了解了行业的挑战。同行们表示，回顾个人的物质使用经历会带来情绪压力，个人和职业边界变得模糊。象征性的同行参与批评强调了真正的领导力和组织支持的必要性。
我们主张通过组织和系统结构调整，实现公平和包容的政策制定。然而，这些变化受到更广泛的政策框架的限制，这些框架需要转向以同行领导为原则，确保同行的专业知识得到真正的重视。政策制定者应投资扩大同行框架，承认吸毒者社区内部的多样性，以改善健康公平和公共卫生结果。这种创新的物质使用研究方法强调了将生活经验融入研究中的变革性影响。
