New Navy Drug Test

Parents of plebes to be - talk to them about this: if they are prescribed a medicine, anything that’s a controlled substance, they should take that medicine only for the condition/injury/illness for which it was meant. If they have a few CoTylenol or a Percoset left over from wisdom tooth removal, eye surgery, ACL repair, whatever, and a year later, decide to take one after getting banged up for a reason unrelated to the original condition, and then pop positive on a urinalysis - not good at all. As easily as it can be explained, the bottom line is that it will be considered intentional usage of a controlled substance that was not prescribed for whatever reason they took it.

If you’re on a course of these kinds of drugs for Condition X, and you pop positive, all is well, because it’s supported by your medical record. If it’s not...
 
Capt MJ said:
Parents of plebes to be - talk to them about this: if they are prescribed a medicine, anything that’s a controlled substance, they should take that medicine only for the condition/injury/illness for which it was meant. If they have a few CoTylenol or a Percoset left over from wisdom tooth removal, eye surgery, ACL repair, whatever, and a year later, decide to take one after getting banged up for a reason unrelated to the original condition, and then pop positive on a urinalysis - not good at all. As easily as it can be explained, the bottom line is that it will be considered intentional usage of a controlled substance that was not prescribed for whatever reason they took it.

If you’re on a course of these kinds of drugs for Condition X, and you pop positive, all is well, because it’s supported by your medical record. If it’s not...
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Well self medication is not a good idea.
 
And don’t give them away, even with the best of intentions! You would think this is common sense, but guaranteed, there are those who don’t stop to think - it can be mids, cadets or anyone impulse-driven brain in uniform.
 
I have been wondering about CBD Oils that are all over the news these days. The grandmas arrested at airport security for having oils in their possession. Legal one place, not another. Obviously just stay away is wise, but wonder how it would play out with a SA check. Either on IDay or any other [emoji848]
 
Don't know if it's still true, but in Naval Aviation self-medication of any kind is prohibited. If a flier took any meds (OTC included), they had to go in to sick call with a flight surgeon at the earliest possible time and was automatically grounded. In my squadron the flight surgeon did give us blanket approval for tylenol/aspirin for pain, but anything else was prohibited. The policy came out when an EA-6B did a ramp strike on Nimitz in 1980, and the pilot was found to have been self medicating decongestants for a sinus infection. BTW, of the eleven sailors on the deck who were killed, ten had THC in their systems while on the flight deck. This was the beginning of the Navy's zero tolerance policy.

Using meds for the condition only, and as prescribed, has to be pounded into all OCs. It's also a good idea for said OC to keep running tally of all meds taken. It's a good habit that will earn dividends as middle age approaches.
 
I have never served, but those I know who have, say the only thing they ever give you in the service is Ibuprofen unless you are practically dying. That is all I would suggest anyone take for anything unless prescribed. No cold meds, nothing else.
 
Physicsguru said:
Don't know if it's still true, but in Naval Aviation self-medication of any kind is prohibited. If a flier took any meds (OTC included), they had to go in to sick call with a flight surgeon at the earliest possible time and was automatically grounded. In my squadron the flight surgeon did give us blanket approval for tylenol/aspirin for pain, but anything else was prohibited. The policy came out when an EA-6B did a ramp strike on Nimitz in 1980, and the pilot was found to have been self medicating decongestants for a sinus infection. BTW, of the eleven sailors on the deck who were killed, ten had THC in their systems while on the flight deck. This was the beginning of the Navy's zero tolerance policy.

Using meds for the condition only, and as prescribed, has to be pounded into all OCs. It's also a good idea for said OC to keep running tally of all meds taken. It's a good habit that will earn dividends as middle age approaches.
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Not sure about Naval Aviation but this was not the case with Army Aviation, though the list of approved OTC drugs was quite short. Heck, I had to take “Army Candy” before and after every combat mission to deal with back pain from wearing chicken plate.
 
GaitherDad said:
I have never served, but those I know who have, say the only thing they ever give you in the service is Ibuprofen unless you are practically dying. That is all I would suggest anyone take for anything unless prescribed. No cold meds, nothing else.
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Those guys you heard are wrong. In my experience, it was not necessarily easy to get beyond the standard Motrin/Tylenol/APC but when called for it absolutely happened.
 
justdoit19 said:
I have been wondering about CBD Oils that are all over the news these days. The grandmas arrested at airport security for having oils in their possession. Legal one place, not another. Obviously just stay away is wise, but wonder how it would play out with a SA check. Either on IDay or any other
Click to expand...

Good question. It is important to recognize that CBD is not the same as Marijuana, which has higher levels of THC (active), and is not hallucinogenic. CBD was made legal (or delisted as a criminal substance) under last years Farm Bill, but is still subject to each state establishing a regulatory scheme. I haven't seen whether the Services have taken a position on CBD yet...and yes, Servicemembers should stay clear until the position is clear. Marijuana/THC is still illegal under Federal law, and Services have made it clear that it is still prohibited even if you are in a State where it is legal.
 
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