Navigating Recovery in the Age of Telehealth
The evolution of telemedicine has made essential treatments more accessible, especially for individuals battling opioid addiction. One notable advancement is online methadone treatment, which allows patients to receive care without frequent in-person visits. This digital approach supports consistent medication management, counseling, and monitoring through secure platforms, reducing barriers like transportation or stigma. While methadone traditionally required daily clinic attendance, virtual programs are now making it easier for people to stay engaged in their recovery. However, strict guidelines and supervision remain crucial to ensure safety and effectiveness in this treatment model. Always seek licensed providers for any online addiction services.
The correlation between LGBTQ+ identity and heightened rates of substance abuse is more than statistical—it's sociological and psychological. The Minority Stress Theory explains how the persistent exposure to prejudice, rejection, and social inequality generates a chronic level of psychological stress unique to LGBTQ+ individuals.
Many queer and trans people grow up internalizing shame from religious institutions, family dynamics, or cultural expectations. That shame metastasizes, manifesting in anxiety, depression, and eventually, the false solace of substances. Methamphetamines, opioids, alcohol—these become tools for muting pain, dulling identity-based rejection, and surviving environments that are not built for inclusion.
Accessing treatment is often fraught with invisible landmines. Traditional rehab centers may lack culturally competent care, leaving LGBTQ+ clients vulnerable to microaggressions, misgendering, or outright discrimination.
There is also the looming specter of institutional mistrust, forged from decades of systemic exclusion—particularly for trans individuals and people of color within the queer community. For many, treatment settings that ignore or erase identity are not safe spaces—they're re-traumatizing. This deters engagement and compromises outcomes.
tersect with addiction. Safety, affirmation, and authenticity must be central to the clinical framework. A queer person should never have to compartmentalize who they are to receive care.
Healing is rarely solitary. Peer-led spaces offer a sanctuary where lived experience becomes a form of medicine. LGBTQ+-specific recovery groups—such as gay-friendly 12-step meetings, trans-led sober collectives, and online queer sobriety forums—provide not just empathy, but embodiment of survival.
These peer networks break isolation, offer role models of thriving, and create accountability in a space free from heteronormative or cisnormative assumptions. The alchemy of communal support can't be understated; it transforms recovery into a shared act of resistance and liberation.
Substance abuse and trauma often hold hands. For LGBTQ+ individuals, the trauma may be insidious: bullying, forced outing, homelessness, or conversion therapy. Trauma-informed care within queer-affirming settings ensures that clinicians treat every client as a whole person—attuned to both their pain and their power.
This model avoids pathologizing survival strategies. It emphasizes regulation over repression and compassion over correction. When combined with identity-affirming principles, trauma-informed care helps clients build lives that are not only sober but soul-anchored.
For individuals struggling with opioid addiction, finding accessible treatment options can be life-changing. One common search people make is for methadone near me as they seek reliable medication-assisted treatment. Methadone has been used for decades to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms, allowing individuals to regain control of their lives. Clinics that offer methadone programs often provide additional counseling and support, helping patients build a strong foundation for long-term recovery. Local availability is key, as consistent access to treatment significantly improves outcomes. Choosing a nearby clinic can make all the difference in staying committed to the recovery journey.
The journey toward healing for LGBTQ+ individuals struggling with substance abuse must begin with affirmation—not just of sobriety, but of self. It must be trauma-sensitive, culturally informed, and community-driven. Anything less is inadequate. The future of recovery lies in our willingness to embrace difference not as a barrier to healing, but as a vital pathway through it. A future where dignity is not a privilege, but a right—and where no one has to choose between sobriety and being seen.
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Time Business News
15-07-2025
- Time Business News
Navigating Recovery in the Age of Telehealth
Substance abuse within the LGBTQ+ community represents a quiet, yet persistent crisis. While progress has been made in advancing equality, the undercurrents of stigma, trauma, and alienation still carve deep channels into the lives of queer individuals. These emotional tributaries often flow into substance use as a maladaptive form of coping. Healing cannot be generic—it must be nuanced, deliberate, and profoundly affirming. The path forward lies in rewriting the narrative of care to one that embraces identity, fosters safety, and empowers self-worth. The evolution of telemedicine has made essential treatments more accessible, especially for individuals battling opioid addiction. One notable advancement is online methadone treatment, which allows patients to receive care without frequent in-person visits. This digital approach supports consistent medication management, counseling, and monitoring through secure platforms, reducing barriers like transportation or stigma. While methadone traditionally required daily clinic attendance, virtual programs are now making it easier for people to stay engaged in their recovery. However, strict guidelines and supervision remain crucial to ensure safety and effectiveness in this treatment model. Always seek licensed providers for any online addiction services. The correlation between LGBTQ+ identity and heightened rates of substance abuse is more than statistical—it's sociological and psychological. The Minority Stress Theory explains how the persistent exposure to prejudice, rejection, and social inequality generates a chronic level of psychological stress unique to LGBTQ+ individuals. Many queer and trans people grow up internalizing shame from religious institutions, family dynamics, or cultural expectations. That shame metastasizes, manifesting in anxiety, depression, and eventually, the false solace of substances. Methamphetamines, opioids, alcohol—these become tools for muting pain, dulling identity-based rejection, and surviving environments that are not built for inclusion. Accessing treatment is often fraught with invisible landmines. Traditional rehab centers may lack culturally competent care, leaving LGBTQ+ clients vulnerable to microaggressions, misgendering, or outright discrimination. There is also the looming specter of institutional mistrust, forged from decades of systemic exclusion—particularly for trans individuals and people of color within the queer community. For many, treatment settings that ignore or erase identity are not safe spaces—they're re-traumatizing. This deters engagement and compromises outcomes. tersect with addiction. Safety, affirmation, and authenticity must be central to the clinical framework. A queer person should never have to compartmentalize who they are to receive care. Healing is rarely solitary. Peer-led spaces offer a sanctuary where lived experience becomes a form of medicine. LGBTQ+-specific recovery groups—such as gay-friendly 12-step meetings, trans-led sober collectives, and online queer sobriety forums—provide not just empathy, but embodiment of survival. These peer networks break isolation, offer role models of thriving, and create accountability in a space free from heteronormative or cisnormative assumptions. The alchemy of communal support can't be understated; it transforms recovery into a shared act of resistance and liberation. Substance abuse and trauma often hold hands. For LGBTQ+ individuals, the trauma may be insidious: bullying, forced outing, homelessness, or conversion therapy. Trauma-informed care within queer-affirming settings ensures that clinicians treat every client as a whole person—attuned to both their pain and their power. This model avoids pathologizing survival strategies. It emphasizes regulation over repression and compassion over correction. When combined with identity-affirming principles, trauma-informed care helps clients build lives that are not only sober but soul-anchored. For individuals struggling with opioid addiction, finding accessible treatment options can be life-changing. One common search people make is for methadone near me as they seek reliable medication-assisted treatment. Methadone has been used for decades to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms, allowing individuals to regain control of their lives. Clinics that offer methadone programs often provide additional counseling and support, helping patients build a strong foundation for long-term recovery. Local availability is key, as consistent access to treatment significantly improves outcomes. Choosing a nearby clinic can make all the difference in staying committed to the recovery journey. The journey toward healing for LGBTQ+ individuals struggling with substance abuse must begin with affirmation—not just of sobriety, but of self. It must be trauma-sensitive, culturally informed, and community-driven. Anything less is inadequate. The future of recovery lies in our willingness to embrace difference not as a barrier to healing, but as a vital pathway through it. A future where dignity is not a privilege, but a right—and where no one has to choose between sobriety and being seen. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Indian Express
05-05-2025
- Indian Express
Include teachings of Buddha, Gandhi,; drop Palestine, Kashmir issues: DU panel proposes changes to psychology curriculum
The Delhi University's Standing Committee on Academic Affairs has proposed incorporating teachings of Gautam Buddha, Mahatma Gandhi, and traditions from Jain philosophy, alongside texts such as the Bhagavad Gita, into the psychology curriculum under the units that deal with peacebuilding and conflict, The Indian Express has learnt. 'There are no bigger symbols than Gandhi and Buddha — they represent peace and universal values,' said a committee member on the condition of anonymity. The move aims to 'reduce the over-representation of Western thinkers' and bring in an Indian perspective, said sources. The suggestions were discussed during a meeting on May 2, as part of the syllabus revision for undergraduate (seventh and eighth semesters) and postgraduate psychology curriculum under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. According to internal notes and faculty present at the meeting, the committee also discussed removing content related to the Israel-Palestine conflict and the Kashmir issue from a unit titled 'Conflict and Conflict Resolution', arguing that these were politically divisive and lacked relevance in a psychology course. 'When societies and nations are already divided on these two issues, what is the need to teach these in the classroom and divide students further?' said a committee member. Another added, 'Kashmir is a resolved issue as per Parliament… there is no need for it to be part of psychology.' When contacted, Shri Prakash Singh, Director of South Campus and Chairperson of the Standing Committee said, 'The meeting is inconclusive and nothing has been dropped yet,' without elaborating further. Supporters of the suggested revisions argue that Indian traditions offer valuable frameworks for understanding human behaviour and peacebuilding. 'Buddha always stood against Brahmanical and Vedantic philosophy, and his teachings suit everyone,' said another member, stressing that these perspectives are inclusive and better aligned with Indian cultural realities. However, several faculty members present at the meeting raised strong objections. According to them, the Chair not only dismissed discussions on international conflicts but also objected to the inclusion of topics such as dating apps, the Minority Stress Theory, and the psychology of diversity. In a unit of a paper titled 'Digital Lives and Mental Health', which explores the psychological impact of dating apps, some faculty members present at the meeting said that the Chair said such topics were unnecessary, adding that 'our Indian family system and arranged marriage traditions are strong, and we need not imbibe everything from the West.' Professor Urmi Nanda Biswas, Head of the Department of Psychology, however, is learnt to have defended the topic, citing recent cases of mental health crises and suicides linked to dating app usage among youth. The Minority Stress Theory—used to study how social stressors affect marginalised communities—was also flagged for removal by the Chair, claimed a few members, alongside objections to the teaching of caste, gender, and prejudice within the Psychology of Diversity paper. But another set of members on the committee said, 'Stress is universal. In India, the only minority is the Muslim minority,' referring to a narrower framing of psychological vulnerability. Meanwhile, some faculty members present at the meeting called the proposed revisions 'politically motivated'. 'This is not just about syllabus design. This is about academic freedom,' said Monami Sinha, a member of the Standing Committee and Associate Professor at Kamala Nehru College. 'It is concerning that the autonomy of the Department seems to be overlooked, as the Chair's actions appear to be politically motivated and represent unwarranted interference in academic decision-making,' she said. A new panel has been constituted to revisit the syllabus, with final recommendations expected by May 6.
The Hindu
03-05-2025
- The Hindu
DU professor claims psychology syllabus faced scrutiny at standing committee meeting
A member of the Delhi University's Academic Council has raised concerns over what she described as undue scrutiny and interference in the psychology syllabus during a meeting of the university's Standing Committee on Academic Matters on Friday. No immediate response was available from the university. According to Monami Sinha, Associate Professor at the Kamala Nehru College and a member of both the Academic Council and the standing committee, several key areas of the syllabus were questioned, particularly for the inclusion of western perspectives and politically-sensitive topics. Major point of contention The Psychology of Peace course was a major point of discussion, especially Unit four, which deals with conflict and conflict resolution through case studies like the Israel-Palestine conflict and the Kashmir issue. Ms. Sinha claimed that there were calls to remove this unit altogether, with assertions that the Kashmir issue was already resolved and that teaching the Israel-Palestine conflict was unnecessary. It was proposed, she said, that the unit be replaced with Indian philosophical texts, such as the Mahabharata and the Bhagavad Gita, to reflect indigenous perspectives on peace. Ms. Sinha also said objections were raised against content related to social media and dating apps, which form part of another elective. The argument, she said, was that such topics were not appropriate for Indian classrooms and that the curriculum should reflect traditional family values instead. This, despite the relevance of such topics in light of growing mental health concerns and recent incidents involving youngsters and online platforms. She further claimed that proposals were made to drop the Minority Stress Theory from the syllabus, a key framework for understanding the psychological experiences of marginalised groups. Additionally, she noted objections to the inclusion of themes like caste discrimination, misogyny, and prejudice under Psychology of Diversity, with suggestions to adopt a more positive approach instead. Ms. Sinha said these are deeply relevant issues in contemporary Indian society. 'Understanding the psychology of oppression, discrimination and evolving youth behaviour in the age of AI and social media is essential. Diluting these topics undermines the academic depth of the discipline,' she added. Ms. Sinha expressed concern that the department's academic autonomy is being compromised. "The nature of the objections appears politically motivated. Academic decisions should be based on pedagogy and research, not ideology," she said.
