Topic 3. Preventing Harm and Ethical Pitfalls

Preventing Harm and Ethical Pitfalls

Even with good intentions, ethical lapses can cause harm. Common pitfalls include:

• Breach of Confidentiality – Sharing a peer’s personal information or details about their recovery journey without consent.

• Dual Relationships – Blurring professional boundaries (e.g., forming friendships, exchanging or involving money in the relationship).

• Overstepping Competencies – Offering medical or clinical advice.

• Imposing Personal Beliefs – Encouraging a peer to follow a specific recovery path that aligns with personal views rather than the peer’s own goals.

Example: A peer specialist who believes in abstinence pressures a peer to discontinue medication-assisted treatment (MAT). This violates ethics by prioritizing personal beliefs over the peer’s chosen path.

Key Takeaway: Ethical peer specialists must support all recovery pathways without bias.