What is it really like to live with mental illness, addiction, or both at the same time? In his new book, "Profiles of Mental Health Courage," Patrick J. Kennedy delves deeply into the reality of 12 courageous individuals' lives who came forward to share their profoundly personal experiences, some of whom are public figures whose stories are now told for the first time. Join me to learn more about how Patrick J. Kennedy, former congressman and co-founder of The Kennedy Forum, is working to transform the accessibility of scientifically based mental health and addiction treatment, both in practice and public policy.

The rise in teen overdose fatalities is a concerning trend that is largely driven by counterfeit pills laid with highly potent and lethal doses of opioids such as fentanyl. These pills are accessible to young people via social media for as little as $15, and too often lead to a tragic outcome the very first time a teen takes one. In this episode, I explain how teens are accessing these pills on social media, who is at risk, and what parents can do to protect them.

Given the spread of potent and potentially deadly opioids such as fentanyl, the dangers of youth experimentation with drugs are more serious than ever before. Young people and parents alike are often unaware of the risks of substance use. In this episode, I review some of the risk factors for drug use among young people, as well as the "buffers," including things that parents can pay attention to and do to reduce the likelihood that their teen will start using substances at an early age. I also discuss the impact of teen substance use on the developing brain and why early initiation of substance use is especially harmful to young people.