{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,22]],"date-time":"2026-09-22T08:34:40Z","timestamp":1790066080044,"version":"4.0.1"},"reference-count":48,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,8,30]],"date-time":"2024-08-30T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1724976000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Griffith University"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJERPH"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Introduction: Peers in the alcohol and other drug sectors possess lived\u2013living experience (LLE) crucial for shaping community care. However, genuine consumer collaboration is often confounded by stigma. This study examined peers\u2019 perceptions, exploring their experiences regarding workforce dynamics, policy implications, and impacts on health equity. In presenting the research, we sought to synthesise the research methods and illustrate the methodological innovation and knowledge production in substance use research through authentic collaboration. Methods: We purposively sampled peer networks and community organisations, involving peer-researchers in planning, design, and analysis. We conducted semi-structured digital interviews with 18 peers and applied iterative coding to analyse the data. Results: This collaborative process provided nuanced insights into sectoral challenges. Peers expressed emotional strain revisiting personal substance use experiences, blurring personal and professional boundaries. Tokenistic peer involvement critiques underscored the need for genuine leadership and organisational support. Conclusion: We advocate for a shift towards equitable and inclusive policy development through both organisational and systemic restructuring. However, these changes are hamstrung by broader policy frameworks, which require a shift to peer-led principles, ensuring the expertise of peers is genuinely valued. Policymakers should invest in expanding peer frameworks, acknowledging the diversity within communities of people who use drugs to improve health equity and public health outcomes. This innovative approach to substance use research emphasises the transformative impact of integrating LLE into research.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph21091152","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,8,30]],"date-time":"2024-08-30T06:46:29Z","timestamp":1725000389000},"page":"1152","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":14,"title":["A Collaborative Approach to Understanding the Intersections of Practice and Policy for Peers in the Alcohol and Other Drugs Sector"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"21","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6177-0266","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Timothy","family":"Piatkowski","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Applied Psychology, Mount Gravatt Campus, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4122, Australia"},{"name":"Griffith Centre for Mental Health, Griffith University, Mount Gravatt, QLD 4122, Australia"},{"name":"Queensland Injectors Voice for Advocacy and Action, Fortitude Valley BC, QLD 4006, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Emma","family":"Kill","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Griffith Centre for Mental Health, Griffith University, Mount Gravatt, QLD 4122, Australia"},{"name":"Queensland Injectors Voice for Advocacy and Action, Fortitude Valley BC, QLD 4006, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,8,30]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"102922","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugpo.2020.102922","article-title":"\u2018Peer\u2019 work as precarious: A qualitative study of work conditions and experiences of people who use drugs engaged in harm reduction work","volume":"85","author":"Greer","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int. 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