Role of Peer Support in Building Motivation to Change Addictive Behaviour

This article deals with the results of a qualitative, multiple-case study that examined the impact of peer support on motivation for change amongst service users in a drug addiction recovery program. A total of nine semi-structured interviews were carried out with patients who also worked with a peer worker as part of their involvement with the service. Participant observation and keeping a research diary were additional methods of data collection. The data collected was further processed using reflective thematic analysis. This article draws on DiClemente’s (2018. Addiction and Change: How Addictions Develop and Addicted People Recover, Guilford Publications) transtheoretical model model of intentional behaviour change and McClelland’s (1951. ‘Personality, Sloane, New York’, in The Achievement Motive, p. 28, New York, Appleton-Century-Crofts) theory of motivation and current research findings on motivation in the context of peer support. Main research question is ‘What mechanisms of formal peer support influence motivation to change harmful behaviour in people who take drugs?’ A key finding is that a successfully established peer-service user relationship is a key instrument and premise for building motivation for change. It also presents an overview of the basic mechanisms that build the peer-service user relationship as well as the basic mechanisms that build motivation for change. It is concluded by a discussion on these mechanisms and the current literature as well as drawing implications for practice. The article deals with the topic of peer support in the field of recovery from drug addiction. Through interviews with clients in and out of rehab, it explores the mechanisms of peer support that promote motivation to change harmful behaviour. Conclusions speak to the importance of a specific relationship between peers and clients and describe specific mechanisms that build such a relationship.