If you've abused alcohol for a number of consecutive days, months or years, the cumulative impact all that alcohol has on your body can dramatically increase the levels of dopamine within your brain — that's the neurotransmitter associated with pleasurable feelings like euphoria, relaxation and satisfaction. Given ... 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.
Seizures: Mitigating a Serious Alcohol Withdrawal Risk
Lay Your Burden Down: On Getting Free From Shame and Seeking Help
Substance abuse disorder, or SUD, is a complex issue that impacts more than 20 million American adults each year and about 1 in 10 at some point in their lives. Close to half of those with a drug or alcohol addiction also have what's known as a co-occurring mental health issue like depression, anxiety, personality ... Read More
Walking the Line: Prescription Drugs and Pain Relief in Recovery
During the recovery process, your goal is to abstain from any type of drug that could be a potential threat to your sobriety. It takes just one experience to open the door to relapse, no matter how hard you’ve worked to avoid it. However, pain is a part of life. You may need to manage a simple headache or prepare for a ... Read More
Genetics and Alcoholism: Is Your Body Predisposed?
The question of whether genes or environment are responsible for alcoholism has long been debated, but the answers aren't as clear-cut as popular media often makes it seem. While alcohol abuse does often run in families, specific genes for alcoholism haven't been identified, and the link between biology and alcohol ... Read More
5 Coping Strategies When Friends and Family Let You Down
Drug and alcohol treatment is physically and emotionally demanding. Detox takes a physical toll on your body, often creating pain and life-threatening complications. Yet, the emotional struggle and lack of support from family and friends can be even more crushing. Individuals who are in recovery may feel as though ... Read More
Stranger in the Mirror: An Introduction to Dissociative Identity Disorder
We've all seen a movie or read a book where the villain is portrayed as having more than one personality — they can be sweet as pie one moment and turn around and murder their entire family the next, only to deny any knowledge of the crime. This type of inaccurate and sensationalized portrayal of dissociative identity ... Read More
Xanax: A Drug Profile
Xanax is a type of benzodiazepine drug commonly prescribed for a variety of conditions such as anxiety and convulsions, but it can also be abused. Xanax, known generically as alprazolam, is a dangerous drug and must be taken under the care of a licensed doctor. Over 30 percent of people who overdose are ... Read More
Stepping Stones: A Comparative Guide to Sober Homes, Transitional Housing and Halfway Houses
People who are working through recovery often enter residential programs for intensive care. At FHE Health, this is the foundation of detox and initial care. At some point, clients need to return to their daily lives. However, walking back into the same life — the same home, surrounded by the same people and often in ... Read More