Synthetic marijuana (often called K2 or Spice) is not marijuana at all. It is a lab created chemical that tries to replicate the effect of smoking marijuana on the body. It is most often infused into incense or inert herbs that could then be smoked in a joint or bong like marijuana flower. For a period of four years ... 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?
The Rise and Fall of Synthetic Marijuana, AKA Spice
Write a Letter To Yourself
When you were little did you ever have to write yourself a letter? A couple of times in my youth a teacher or camp counselor had me write a letter to myself that they would, supposedly, send my way a few months later, only one ever did. I think the idea is to connect a sense of time and change to kids, and connecting ... Read More
Faithless but in Alcoholics Anonymous
When you’re going through rehab you might hear people talk about their “higher power”. You’re not really religious or spiritual. You didn’t grow up in a church and you don’t really hold to the idea of an ultimate creator. Or maybe you were raised in a faith tradition. You sang the songs and went to church, maybe you ... Read More
Never Underestimate Your Opponent
“There is no greater danger than underestimating your opponent.” Sun Tzu, Chinese Military Strategist On your road to recovery there will be both ups and downs that will make you question your way. The downs can be very low. You could feel hopeless. You might feel like you haven’t moved forward one inch. ... Read More
Addicted with an Unsupportive Family
There are all kinds of families out there. As society gets more comfortable with gender and sexuality stereotypes bending and breaking, we see many different ways to define “family”. It’s great because there are so many people out there who have been abandoned by family, or whose relationships have deteriorated with ... Read More
How to Fight Loneliness, Smile All The Time
There’s this Wilco song called “How to Fight Loneliness”. Jeff Tweedy, the lead singer strums his guitar and pours the lyrics out. “How to fight loneliness, smile all the time, shine your teeth to meaningless, and sharpen them with lies”. I take this song to be one of bitterness. Tweedy is positing that the only way ... Read More
It’s Time We Understand that Addicts are People Too
Our society has an incredible bias against people who are struggling with drug and alcohol addiction. The stigma permeates through pop culture, politics, and everyday life. If we want to make drug addiction a thing of the past, let's start by reducing this stigma. The Crow My first exposure to heroin was via a 1994 ... Read More
Anxiety and Depression, Silent Killers
I know how it feels. You can’t get out of bed. You wish you could dig a hole in the ground and bury yourself with a straw. You probably don’t want to die but you don’t want to live this way either, you just want to disappear until the feeling you’re experiencing right now dissipates and you can get back to the business ... Read More
