Illicit drug use is on the rise across the nation. According to the CDC, nearly one in 10 Americans aged 12 and over used an illicit drug within a month prior to a survey that was conducted in 2013, a 13% increase over the number reported in a 2002 survey. Marijuana use accounts for a large portion of reported drug ... Read More
Learning Center
FHE Health is dedicated to educating the American public—especially individuals, families, and communities—about mental health and substance abuse topics. In our Learning Center, you'll find articles on alcoholism, substance abuse, behavioral and mental health, and other treatment-related issues. Our articles are written both for the person in need of treatment as well as loved ones seeking more information. We also provide information for those who have gone through treatment and are building a new life in recovery.
Featured in Learning Center
The Toll of Online Dating: Surprising New Survey Data
Can You Have PTSD from a Home Fire or Burglary?
Do People Go to Drug Rehab for Weed?
Drug Profile: Dexedrine
In 1929, Gordon Alles, a biochemist, was actively working on an alternative decongestant when he discovered the first known amphetamine. By 1945, amphetamine tablet sales had reached more than $2 million in revenue, with Dexedrine accounting for $650,000 in sales. It is widely believed by experts that this time period ... Read More
How to Tell My Parents I’m Having Mental Health Issues
Mental health issues can sneak up on anyone at any time. Navigating the world each day can become confusing and scary. During times of uncertainty, depression and other mental health challenges can quickly cast shadows over things that used to bring joy. In these times, it can be very hard to open up about an issue ... Read More
The Role of Fathers in Breaking the Cycle of Emotional Unavailability
During treatment for opiate addiction, Megan talked a lot with her counselor about her family of origin, childhood, and, in particular, her father's aloofness. As a child, Megan always blamed herself for her inability to "connect" with her father Sam. Megan's mother lavished affection and attention on her but Sam ... Read More
David Bowie on Cocaine – Disturbing Recollections of What Drugs Did to Him
David Bowie was a visionary whose innovative thought and musical creativity were beyond imitation. Between the 1960s and the 1990s, he changed the music industry many times and altered his identity even more frequently. But stories about David Bowie's life must be told through the lens of his struggles with drug ... Read More
Five Dangers of Keeping Mental Health Issues Secret
In the United States, roughly one in five adults lives with a mental illness, or around 47 million people. In spite of the prevalence of mental illness, there is still a stigma surrounding admitting to mental health challenges. Despite being just as legitimate as physical illness, many people are still unwilling to ... Read More
How to Plan an Intervention for a Loved One with Mental Illness
Updated October 30, 2024 Awareness of mental illness and the importance of treatment has been growing in recent years, thanks to numerous campaigns and celebrity efforts to raise awareness of conditions like addiction, depression, anxiety disorders, and self-destructive behaviors. Despite this progress, many ... Read More
Drug Profile: Ayahuasca
The indigenous people of the Amazon basin traditionally consumed ayahuasca, a psychedelic drug, as medicine in spiritual ayahuasca ceremonies. The drug has several different names throughout Brazil and the northern part of South America, including "ayawaska," "caapi," "cipo," "natem" and "shori." The first known use ... Read More
