Although many Americans use over-the-counter drugs to combat maladies that may not require the attention of a doctor and a subsequent prescription, younger pain sufferers may not know enough about the therapies to make informed decisions.

Researchers presenting at the Pediatric Academic Society reported findings citing a survey of 100 adolescents ages 14-20 where three-quarters of the participants admitted to taking over-the-counter pain relievers, yet less than half understood the ramifications of the usage.

"This tells health professionals that we need to teach our young people about safe use of over-the-counter pain medications," said lead author Karen Wilson, adding that potential risks of some pain relievers when misused, especially compound medications with more than one kind of painkiller, include liver damage.

A program that benefits those at the opposite end of the age spectrum may also prove beneficial for younger Americans who already surf the web.

Research from the Self-Care Pain Management Project found that abdominal relaxation, writing about positive and difficult experiences and other pain coping techniques in online modules enabled the senior citizen participants to have less pain intensity.