Patterns of Clients’ Service Use and Treatment-Engagement: Evidence from a Peer-Led Recovery Community Center

IRIS Pilot Project Findings

These findings indicate that keeping clients engaged and providing services no matter what their stage within the recovery process is important, including to support future treatment engagement. Future community-academic partnerships could build on this research to examine other outcomes besides treatment, like recovery capital, and to support agencies to continually improve data collection and measurement procedures. Read the full write-up here.

Training Paramedics to Administer Buprenorphine in the Field

Research Corner: Emerging recovery research to inform practice, policy, and further study

In February 2025, House Bill 1131, titled Public Health - Buprenorphine - Training Grant Program and Workgroup was introduced in Maryland. This bill proposes to establish the Buprenorphine Training Grant Program to help counties with the expense of training paramedics to administer buprenorphine. In this research corner, we summarize two research articles that examined the effectiveness of initiating buprenorphine by a trained EMS team. The first article presents the first-year results of a pilot program in California, followed by a second retrospective cohort study conducted in an urban New Jersey community.

IRIS Conference and PEER Workshop Presentations

See where IRIS and its affiliated PEER project will be presenting

Conference Roundtable 

National Conference on Addiction Recovery Science 

4/23 - 4/24

“Multidirectional Learning within Equitable Community-Academic Partnerships to Enhance Peer Recovery” 

- IRIS Moderators: Jon Gilgoff, Victoria Barreira, Yali Deng, & Riley Robinson 

- Tiffinee Scott, CPRS, RPS, Maryland Peer Advisory Council   

- Stephanie Hutter-Thomas, PhD, CPH, RPS 

- Jennifer Brown, BA, RPS, On Our Own of Maryland   

- Fernando Wagner, MPH, ScD, University of Maryland School of Social Work

Learn more and register for this conference

Conference Workshop 

On Our Own of Maryland 2025 Annual Conference 

5/28 - 5/29 

 “Moving the Needle and Into Leadership Roles: Data and Peer Driven Solutions to Community Needs”   

- Stephanie Hutter-Thomas, PhD, CPH, RPS 

- Jon Gilgoff, PhD, MSW, University of Maryland School of Social Work 

- Victoria Barreira, BA, University of Maryland School of Social Work 

Learn more and register for this conference 

Online Workshop for Continuing Professional Education 

Leveraging the Power of Peers in Substance Use Recovery: Supporting Clients and Strengthening Systems 

5/9 at 9 AM EST 

Peer-Focused Education to Enhance Recovery (PEER)

Through a research-grounded presentation, an engaging panel of peer leaders, and group discussion, workshop participants will gain knowledge to access and leverage peer resources to optimally meet clients’ needs and strengthen systems of care. CEUs available for social workers, psychologists, and LCPCs.

Learn more and register

Now, New, and Upcoming 

Announcements from IRIS and the community 

Virtual Symposium 

From Service Recipient to Team Member: Best Practices for Employing Peer Alumni 

3/14 at 10 AM EST 

On Our Own of Maryland

Join this virtual symposium where subject matter expert Ellen Healion will walk viewers through the boundaries and ethics of hiring peers to serve as members on the same teams from which they've previously received services. This will include a panel presentation from BCRI's Deana Krizan and Voices of Hope's Jennifer Tuerke and a Q&A. Register here.

Event 

Spring 2025 Anti-Stigma Institute 

4/7 - 4/8 at the Darcy Hotel, Washington, D.C. 

Addiction Policy Forum 

To facilitate opportunities for meaningful interaction between and among Institute participants and faculty and networking opportunities, the event is intentionally small with a limited 75 spots. Learn more and register. 

Virtual Forum Series 

What’s Emergent in Emerging Adult Recovery Support Services Research? 

4/10 at 1 PM EST 

CHEARR & JEAP Initiative

The CHEARR & JEAP Initiative Forum Series aims to inspire both early career and senior investigators to pursue new or expanded research on emerging adult (EA) recovery support services. This forum is ideal for researchers interested in this field, as well as individuals with lived experience and providers of EA recovery support services who want to engage with research on the topic. Learn more and register.

Free Event 

Kahlert Annual Research Symposium 

Abstracts Due: 4/14 

Conference: 5/28 at SMC Campus Center, Baltimore 

Kahlert Institute for Addiction Medicine

Join for a day of insightful discussions, innovative research presentations, and networking opportunities. Poster abstracts are open until 4/14. Abstracts are welcome from different disciplines, as long as they have broad relevance for addiction medicine. Learn more about the abstract submission and event. 

Conference 

Tuerk Conference on Mental Health & Addiction Treatment

4/29 at Baltimore Convention Center 

NCADD Maryland

The Annual Tuerk Conference continues to be the premier conference in the Maryland region for providers, administrators, counselors, and advocates to learn about the latest information on events and changes. It is important for professionals in this field to stay informed about these changes and their impact on patient care. Other topics that will be covered include: NCADD advocacy training, updates from the Behavioral Health Administration, peer integration for better outcomes, PTSD and Addiction, Nature-Informed Therapy, and the latest developments in addiction research. Learn more and register.