Peer Support Workers Feasibility Study

Many people with high-risk opioid use visit emergency departments (EDs), facing a high risk of death if they leave before completing care. Peer support workers (Peer) - people with lived experience of substance use - may improve patient comfort, reduce early departures, and potentially lower mortality rates. This study aims to evaluate how a hospital-implemented ED Peer program can enhance patient support, reduce barriers to care, and provide harm-reduction resources in a person-centred and trauma-informed manner. The study will also validate the outcome and obtain preliminary estimates of the benefits of decreasing patients who leave the ED before completing care.

NCT Number	NCT07030192
Lead Sponsor	University of British Columbia Collaborators: Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, BC Centers for Disease Control
Conditions	Substance Use Disorder (SUD)
Enrollment	3,181 participants
Start Date	2024-11-23
Primary Completion	2027-09 (estimated)
Study Completion	2027-12 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2025-11-21