Washington State started the Peer Pathfinder program in 2017 using State Opioid Response funding to support outreach for adults experiencing homelessness who report opioid or stimulant use and are at risk of overdose. The program hires peer support professionals, people with lived and living behavioral health experience, who help individuals navigate care and recovery. From 2017 to 2023, 14 programs served 4,476 people across the state, many of whom had diagnosed opioid or stimulant use disorders. Most participants entered the program with prior involvement in the criminal legal system, frequent emergency department visits or hospitalizations, or recent admissions to medically managed withdrawal services. Additional evaluations could help demonstrate the program’s effectiveness and identify opportunities to strengthen it, including improving access to treatment medications and supporting ongoing engagement in care.
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