What is a recovery specialist and how to become one

I began my PRS path in December of 2020. I had gone back to
therapy in late 2019 when some repressed memories came back to me and
I was in the end stage of my active addiction. At that time, I had picked up a
heroin habit when I was no longer able to get pain pills because of the
opioid epidemic and doctors no longer prescribing them. They were
nowhere to be found and I began to get dopesick. I was also using benzos
very heavily and was an absolute mess. I originally attempted to get sober
in December of 2019, and my therapist had mentioned peer recovery in
one of our sessions, saying he thought I would be a great PRS. When he
explained to me what that was, I was very interested and it was a source of
inspiration for me to get clean.
I entered an IOP program in January of 2020 after going to a therapy
session in full blown withdrawal. My therapist gave me two options: in-
patient detox and rehab (which I would not do because I couldn’t leave my
son) or go to an IOP program. The IOP coordinator made the same
comment to me after a few weeks about feeling I would make a great PRS,
so the seed was further planted. I did relapse while in IOP, which started
with an injury in February of 2020 where I was given Percocet, and
eventually picking up heroin again March 11. I overdosed that day, the first
day of my relapse, and continued to use for 12 more days. I went to IOP
one night sick, and after throwing up in the bathroom I looked at myself in
the mirror and knew I was going to die if I didn’t stop. I went back into
group, came clean about everything, and from that day forward I stayed
sober.
I completed the initial 72 hour PRS training the week before
Christmas in 2020, worked as an intern on the peer run warmline for Mental
Health America of Virginia to earn the 500 hours needed for certification as
a PRS, took and passed the certification exam in September of 2022, and
became a registered peer recovery specialist in August of 2023. I currently
work at Master Center for Addiction Medicine in Glen Allen, VA as a peer
recovery coach working with others in recovery every day. I couldn’t
imagine doing anything else ever again, being able to share hope in
recovery and hopefully being an example for others still struggling with
addiction is more than I could ever had hoped for in my life.