Provides links to information about drug and alcohol misuse. Includes info on substance misuse in teens and adults and resources for cutting back or stopping drug and alcohol use.

What are immunizations? Immunizations help keep you and your child from getting certain diseases that can be spread to other people (infectious diseases). They also help reduce the spread of disease to others and prevent epidemics. Immunizations are also called vaccines or vaccinations. If you get a vaccine, it may not...

Self-esteem is a person's core belief about themself. A person's self-esteem is reflected in their actions, both in how as well as what they do. Although self-esteem varies from time to time, the pattern usually leans toward a healthy or unhealthy view of self. With healthy self-esteem, a person is more likely to...

There are many good reasons to quit using tobacco products. Think about your main reasons, and focus on them. Maybe you want to be a healthy adult. It could be that you need to save money. Or maybe you don't want to smell like smoke. Your doctor will be a big help guiding you along the way. And there are many other...

If you want to save this information but don't think it is safe to take it home, see if a trusted friend can keep it for you. Plan ahead. Know who you can call for help, and memorize the phone number. Be careful online too. Your online activity may be seen by others. Do not use your personal computer or device to read...

Helping your infant feel better Your infant (newborn to 12 months) is less likely to be uncomfortable or upset after getting a shot if he or she is not hungry or tired. You can also help your baby during and after the shot by providing gentle comfort and reassurance. The following strategies may help you. See that your...

Adolescence is a time of rapid growth in height and weight and of physical changes throughout the body. Most of these changes happen near the time of puberty. In the United States and Canada, puberty usually starts between the ages of 9 and 13. In females: Breast buds (slight raising and enlargement of the nipple area)...

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) creates Vaccine Information Statements (VISs), which have details about most vaccines given in the United States. The VISs are updated when needed. The information in these statements does not change often. Each VIS explains why to get the vaccine, the risks from the...

Puberty is the time of life when people develop physically and sexually so that they can have children. It is the time when male and female sex characteristics appear and when changes in the sexual organs occur. Puberty is the entire process of changes affecting the body and its hormones that accompany sexual...

Birth control is any method used to prevent pregnancy. If you have vaginal sex without birth control, you could get pregnant. The only sure way to not get pregnant is to not have vaginal sex. But finding birth control that works for you can help...

Learn about common barriers to getting mental health care and tips to overcome them.

Guidelines for chlamydia The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends chlamydia testing for all sexually active women ages 24 and younger. The USPSTF also recommends testing for women older than 24 with high-risk sexual behaviors. The task force does not state how often to be screened. The Centers for...

Early detection and treatment are the key to preventing HIV infection in newborns. Experts agree that all people should be screened for HIV during pregnancy. If you do have HIV, your baby could also become infected. The virus is usually passed on during labor and childbirth. Sometimes it's passed during pregnancy...

Provides links to topics on how to eat well. Topics cover nutrition. Offers healthy eating and physical activity tips. Includes info on healthy weight and healthy eating for children.

Offers links to information on health screenings and on reducing risk factors for injury and disease.

Provides links to info about quitting smoking. Includes links for getting support, helping others quit, using medicines, cravings and withdrawal, and the effect smoking has on a smoker's lifespan.