U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Adam Grant Staff Sgt. Sonyea Woolfork, 28th Medical Support Squadron pharmacy technician, pours old and expired pills into a waste jar Oct 27. The Ellsworth pharmacy fills an average of 130,000 prescriptions per year.

When Airmen ignore inspecting their medicine cabinets, they risk possible damage to their careers and, more importantly, their health.

‘‘Because Airmen are usually in good health, pain problems or injuries that occur during their service will often be resolved before their prescribed medication (runs) out,” said Bill Franklin, 28th Medical Operations Squadron drug demand reduction chief.

This becomes a problem later if Airmen take those medications after the medicine has expired.

Air Force officials regularly require urinalysis tests for Airmen, therefore, this problem is made more obvious than it is in the civilian world, Franklin said.

Three days per week, on average, various Ellsworth AFB Airmen are randomly required to perform urine analysis tests, which works out to 50 to 60 people per day, 700 per quarter and approximately 2,700 per year.

Among these numbers, first-term enlisted Airmen and lieutenants are tested more frequently. This is done because first-term Airmen and lieutenants usually fall into the highest-risk age group for drug abuse, 20 to 28 years old.

Airmen who test positive for expired or borrowed prescriptions are subject to legal proceedings under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and incur punishments similar to those who test positive for illegal narcotics.

‘‘Wrongful use of prescription drugs is a violation of Article 112a of the Uniform Code of Military Justice,” said Capt. Heather Rowlison, 28th Bomb Wing assistant staff judge advocate. ‘‘Violations of this article can be punished at court-martial, with a maximum punishment of dishonorable discharge and a confinement of up to 15 years.”

Giving medication to other Airmen to help with temporary pain or after self-diagnosis, also is a common pitfall for Airmen.

‘‘I was having trouble sleeping at nights due to a recent family tragedy,” said an Ellsworth Airman, who asked not to be identified. ‘‘My co-worker gave me one of her prescribed (sleeping pills) the next day, and I took it without even thinking about it.”

In addition to potential damage to Airmen’s careers, prescription drugs have possible physical side effects as well.

‘‘Medicine and drugs prescribed for one individual can seriously play havoc with your body, metabolism and allergies,” Franklin said. ‘‘Only your doctor knows best.”

Side effects of painkillers and antidepressants include a general lack of interest, light-headedness, slowed and shallow breathing, liver and pancreas damage and overdoses which can be fatal.

Fortunately, incidents such as these can be avoided if Airmen simply follow their doctor or primary care manager’s instructions, Franklin said.