Recovery has been recognised as a whole-life change, not only a short-term measure, but an ongoing process that requires constant work. Peer support is a central tenet in UK drug strategy. Peer support is not there to replace the need for clinical advice, support, and information. It provides people with a supportive community that enables them to play a more active role in the ongoing management of their own health and wellbeing.

Peer support typically involves people with lived experience offering their expertise and knowledge regarding recovery, often using their own recovery journey as a benchmark for others.  Often people in vulnerable situations find it difficult to trust service staff, and having the support of a peer or someone who has experienced similar situations can often prove to be more comforting for the vulnerable person. Peer supporters offer recovery methods to provide motivation and enablement to people in earlier recovery by steering them through their recovery process and supporting people to achieve their goals and aspirations.

Aberdeenshire Community Recovery (ACR) is a lived experience recovery intervention based on recovery oriented care principles (ROCP) and the Ontario Peer Development Initiative (OPDI) principles operating in Aberdeenshire in the North East of Scotland.

©Diane Ord 2025