Written by Elizabeth Cairns, Mobilize Recovery Special Projects and Michael Masiowski, MD, reviewed by Code Recover Clinician Advisors, August 2026

Dr. Nasir Naqvi talks about what peers can do that other ED staff can't.

Peer recovery support specialist Christy Reser talks about what peers do in her program at Valley Hospital in Las Vegas.

A Peer, or Peer Navigator is a specialized member of the healthcare team who has lived experience with substance use and recovery. Unlike clinical staff, their primary credential is their personal history, supplemented by formal training in crisis intervention, motivational interviewing, and connection to recovery resources. In the ED, they function as the connective infrastructure between acute stabilization and long-term engagement.

The primary role of the peer is to create a sense of safety and connection for patients in substance use crisis, who are often stigmatized or fear that seeking help will result in punishment. The peer is not there to perform any clinical tasks, but to help with assessing the situation, creating trust between the patient and the care team, and connecting the patient to longer term care. Because the peer has been in the patient's shoes, they have a means of connecting to the patient in a human-to-human way that is unique, and is difficult for clinical staff to replicate.

Peers help patients become more receptive to care and take on many of the administrative tasks associated with connecting to immediate and long-term follow-up. (source) A good peer team will be familiar with local resources such as treatment centers, community organizations, and other recovery supports. They will also troubleshoot issues with Social Determinants of Health (such as transportation, housing, employment, or insurance) that are outside the clinical team's purview but are essential to the patient's success. Peers can also help screen patients in the waiting area and identify those most at risk for SUD, based on their training and program's screening guidance, intervening where appropriate.

Because peers are dedicated solely to this population, they can offer a focus and, in some cases, off-hours coverage that broader roles often can't.

Dr. Phillip Moschella talks about challenges in establishing a peer program in the ED and how to navigate them.