Rebel Recovery

A recovery community organization in South Florida that supports both peer-driven recovery and harm reduction services

Rebel Recovery is a recovery community organization (RCO), founded in South Florida in 2017, that provides peer support and harm reduction services. It is a hybrid RCO model that has embraced both recovery and harm reduction. The organization has three primary initiatives and service delivery mechanisms, all of which are peer staffed:

  • Peer-based recovery support services to people who are using substances and to those identifying as in recovery from a substance use disorder, including recovery coaching and case management, assistance with housing, employment, and educational goals, and connection to treatment services.
  • Delivery of harm reduction services, including naloxone distribution, overdose prevention and reversal training, a syringe service program, and drug checking equipment such as fentanyl test strips.
  • Engaging in community education and policy advocacy, particularly in educating community stakeholders about overdose risks and influencing policies at the local and state level that will affect people who use drugs. Rebel Recovery has led the effort in advocating for the  second syringe service program in Florida to be established in Palm Beach County.

 

Peer-based support services at a hybrid recovery community organization can successfully engage populations that are often underserved.

Continuum of Care
Recovery
Harm Reduction
Type of Evidence
Peer-reviewed
Response Approach
Overdose prevention
Recovery coaching
Syringe service program / Needle exchange
Peer-reviewed Article

Evidence of Program Effectiveness

"Many were experiencing homelessness (35.4%), unemployed (69.7%), high school graduates or GED holders (68.2%) and had a last year income of less than $10,000 (58.3%)...results suggest that peer-based support services at a hybrid recovery community organization can successfully engage populations that are often underserved (i.e., experiencing homelessness, involved in drug court, intravenous users, etc.)." (Ashford et al., 2019)

Rebel Recovery self-reports: 536 participants served, 5039 naloxone kits distributed, 429 overdose reversals, and over 15,000 hours of recovery support services delivered.