Piloting a digital recovery platform to aid healthcare peer workers in improving patients’ alcohol and drug outcomes

Investigator: Dr Ari Roxburgh

Funder: HCF Foundation

People seeking help for alcohol and/or drug (AOD) use disorders benefit from the support of those in recovery or ‘lived experience workers’ (LEWs). This peer support has occurred naturally for a long time in groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous but is increasingly used in formal healthcare settings through the employment of LEWs. REC-CAP is a software platform that measures patients’ recovery, identifies strengths and barriers, and helps them create a plan to address these, in collaboration with LEWs. Research shows that REC-CAP has been beneficial in helping LEWs improve patients’ wellbeing, enhancing retention in treatment, and fostering growth in recovery capital. REC-CAP will be introduced to Australia and tested with AOD patients leaving residential withdrawal treatment, a time of heightened relapse risk and an increased need for support.