AR · Independent reference
AR 600-85 — THE ARMY SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAM
AR 600-85: program responsibilities, alcohol program, military drug testing. Explore the scope overview and open the official Army source.
Official Army source
GreenBook provides independent scope overviews and catalog metadata. The official source controls the text, applicability, changes, and status; check associated directives before applying policy.
On the official record, choose the PDF link under Unit Of Issue(s) to read the publication.
What this publication covers
AR 600-85 is the Army Substance Abuse Program reference. Its scope combines prevention, responsibilities, alcohol-related program subjects, deterrence, and drug testing administration. The contents separate military personnel testing from Department of the Army Civilian testing, an important distinction when locating a process. The regulation is a program policy reference rather than a general guide to diagnosing substance use or selecting treatment.
Begin by identifying the population and the program function involved. Prevention education, testing administration, and an individual referral do not use the same part of the publication. Command policy and personnel actions may also be relevant, but they should be researched through their own authorities. For a personal health concern, use the appropriate healthcare and program professionals; this page helps locate the official program framework and does not decide a person's clinical needs or administrative outcome.
- Program responsibilities
- Alcohol program
- Military drug testing
- Civilian testing
- Prevention education
Who commonly uses it
Commanders, program staff, unit leaders, and Soldiers locating prevention, testing, or substance abuse program responsibilities.
Where to start in the official publication
These headings were checked against the linked edition's contents. Open the PDF and use its contents or find function; page numbering can differ by viewer.
- Chapter 3: Alcohol
- Chapter 4: Military Personnel Deterrence Drug Testing
Common questions
What regulation covers the Army Substance Abuse Program?
AR 600-85 establishes the program framework. Select the section for the relevant population and function instead of treating all testing and prevention processes alike.
Can this overview determine an individual referral or personnel action?
No. The responsible program, healthcare, and command professionals apply the official guidance to actual circumstances. Connected personnel publications address their separate administrative subjects.
Publication details and freshness
- Publication number
- AR 600-85
- Publication type
- AR
- Issuing authority / proponent
- Department of the Army · G-1
- APD source status
- ACTIVE
- Publication date
- 2024-10-04
- Revision date listed by APD
- 2026-02-19
- Last source verification
- 2026-10-09
- Distribution
- A APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE; DISTRIBUTION IS UNLIMITED
APD change entries: 002 - 02/19/2026 001 - 02/27/2025
Earlier editions replaced by this publication: RESCINDED ARMY DIR 2018-23, 11/08/2018; RESCINDED ARMY DIR 2021-21, 05/18/2021; SUPERSEDED AR 600-85, 07/23/2020. This is edition history, not a claim that the displayed publication is superseded.
APD status and distribution evidence ↗Last verification records a manual source check. GreenBook does not automatically guarantee that no later guidance has been issued.