Recovery Science Speaks: A PRIN Podcast

Episode 6: My Recovery and My Work are Separate: Perceptions of MOUD among Certified Peers

In this episode of Recovery Science Speaks, Dr. Sidney Silverstein of Wright State University discusses her study of how peer recovery support specialists view medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). The conversation explores the complex interplay among personal recovery experiences, professional peer support roles, recovery culture, and evidence-based treatment. Silverstein highlights the value of qualitative research, lived experience, and interdisciplinary collaboration, while emphasizing that curiosity, empathy, and authentic human connection can strengthen recovery support systems and improve outcomes for people affected by substance use disorders.

You can read the full study here.

Episode 5: Evaluating Recovery Community Centers: Insights from the Field

In this episode of Recovery Science Speaks, Dr. Bettina Heppner of Harvard Medical University discusses Recovery Community Centers (RCCs) and their vital role in supporting long-term recovery through peer-led services, social connection, and community engagement. Drawing on a nationwide study of RCC directors, the conversation explores how researchers can better measure the impact of RCCs, the challenges of defining recovery success, and the importance of partnerships between scientists and recovery communities. The episode highlights the value of curiosity, humility, and collaboration in advancing recovery science and strengthening support systems nationwide.

You can read the full study here.

Episode 4: Recovery Housing and MOUDs: Building the Roadmap for Long-Term Recovery

In this episode of Recovery Science Speaks, Drs. Amy Mericle, Sarah E. Zemore, and Leonard Jason explore the critical role recovery housing plays in supporting long-term recovery, particularly for individuals using medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). Drawing on their recent study, they unpack how stable, supportive housing environments can enhance treatment outcomes, strengthen social support, and improve medication adherence. 

While both recovery housing and MOUD are proven, life-saving tools, the conversation highlights a major gap: limited research and guidance on how to effectively integrate the two. Together, they outline a roadmap for advancing research, improving collaboration between providers and housing operators, and addressing barriers that prevent individuals from accessing these essential supports. 

You can read their full study here.

Episode 3: Measuring What Matters: The Art and Science of Community-Based Economic Evaluation

In this episode of Recovery Science Speaks, Dr. Sierra Castedo de Martell discusses her work developing a cost-effectiveness calculator for peer recovery support services, shares her journey into recovery research, and explains how economic tools can help programs demonstrate their value beyond traditional metrics such as abstinence. The featured calculator lets organizations input their own data and measure outcomes such as long-term recovery and quality of life, without reducing impact to just dollar amounts.

You can read the full study here.

Episode 2: Evolving the Peer Workforce: Authenticity, Professionalization, and the Future of Recovery Science

In this episode of Recovery Science Speaks, Dr. Justin Bell explores how lived experience, research, and advocacy are shaping the future of recovery support. As the peer recovery workforce grows, so does the conversation about authenticity and professionalism. 

You can read the full study here.

Episode 1: Introducing Recovery Science Speaks: A Podcast through the Peer Recovery Innovation Network

In the premiere episode of Recovery Science Speaks, we hear from Dr. Jennifer Potter and Dr. Robert Ashford, lead investigators of the Peer Recovery Innovation Network (PRIN) to explore how recovery science evolves through collaboration, lived experience, and rigorous research. They explore PRIN's origins, the national process for setting research priorities, and why recovery science offers a nuanced view of substance use that goes beyond simple yes-or-no perspectives. Listeners will learn why gathering evidence on peer recovery support is vital, how science can be a connecting tool rather than a barrier, and what lies ahead for this emerging field.

Learn more at PRIN.uthscsa.edu