Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relief drugs are often used to treat cold and flu symptoms, headaches, muscle aches, menstrual cramps and back pain. OTC medications can be bought without a prescription, but you may still want to consult a health care professional before you use them if you have underlying health conditions. It is important to […]

Caffeine is a dietary supplement available in powder and liquid forms. While the amount of caffeine in a supplement can be hard to determine, supplements can have much higher concentrated levels of caffeine than what you would find in traditional caffeine products like tea and coffee. Just one teaspoon of pure powdered caffeine can contain […]

Antibiotics are valuable for fighting bacterial infections such as strep throat or a urinary tract infection – but taking them inappropriately can cause antibiotic resistance or make them ineffective for treating your infection. Using Antibiotics Safely One of the main risks with misusing antibiotics is that bacteria can change and become resistant to an antibiotic, […]

What is Anxiety? Anxiety is described as feeling worried, uneasy or fearful. Physical symptoms such as trouble sleeping, increase in blood pressure or muscle tension may occur. Anxiety may only last short-term, such as when taking a test or preparing for a deployment. Ways to Manage Anxiety Without Medication Short-term anxiety may occur from time […]

What is the Difference Between Drug Misuse and Drug Abuse? Although the terms drug misuse and abuse are sometimes used interchangeably, there are differences between the two. Misuse Misuse of a medication occurs when you take medication in a way other than how it was prescribed but are not looking to get “high”. Abuse Abuse […]

What is Chronic Pain? Chronic pain is pain that occurs every day or on most days and lasts three or more months. This type of pain can affect a person’s daily work or life activities. While chronic pain may be caused by a specific injury or illness, it can also have an unknown cause. It […]

Learn how incorporating healthy habits early in your career can help reduce your risk of chronic pain and risky drug use later in life.

Have you heard the phrase “no pain, no gain?” That’s not exactly true.

When feelings of loneliness, distress and/or suicide come up, substance use can make these feelings worse.

Be aware, prescription opioids and alcohol are a bad mix.

Asking for help shows your strength and keeps you and your career safe.

Self-medicating carries serious risk for your health and career.

Among Service members, sleep problems are common. The good news is there are strategies you can use to improve your sleep!

Remember that misusing prescription drugs to “get the job done” puts you and the mission at risk.

Prescription drug misuse means using prescription drugs without following your health care provider’s directions.

TDY/TAD, PCS, deployment or time away from family or friends can feel challenging. As a Service member, how do you handle these potential stressors?