Abstinence News and Research

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Abstinence is a voluntary restraint from indulging a desire or appetite for certain bodily activities that are widely experienced as giving pleasure. Most frequently, the term refers to abstention from sexual intercourse, alcohol or food. The practice can arise from religious prohibitions or practical considerations.

New test reveals truth behind gluten-free labels

Many people have wondered whether the gluten-free labeling on their groceries was true. Now, scientists in Australia have come up with a way to identify the presence of specific glutens in rye that indicate the presence of this grain in foods labeled “gluten-free”. Gluten is already known to be present in wheat, barley and oats.

15 Aug 2019

How #MeToo is changing sex ed policies — even in red states

In Colorado, a law passed this spring requires any sex education taught in the state’s public schools to be medically accurate and, in an unusual move, carves out $1 million to pay for it.

12 Aug 2019

Penn State researchers explore how the opioid epidemic affects society

The devastating consequences of the opioid crisis are far-reaching in the United States, impacting public health as well as social and economic welfare.

30 Jul 2019

Using e-cigarettes daily helps smokers to quit combustible cigarettes

A new study from the Massachusetts General Hospital's Tobacco Research and Treatment Center provides critical population-level evidence demonstrating that using e-cigarettes daily helps U.S. smokers to quit smoking combustible (i.e. regular) cigarettes.

23 Jul 2019

Danbury Hospital launches 'Healing Hugs' for its most vulnerable patients

Hugs matter. And for babies in the neonatal intensive care unit, hugs can change their lives. With the goal of delivering the highest quality care to every NICU baby, Danbury Hospital launched Healing Hugs, a new service where trained volunteer cuddlers provide comfort to babies in the Spratt Family Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

18 Jul 2019

Study explores pregnancy-related adverse events associated with acne medication

Isotretinoin (also known by its former brand name as Accutane or Roaccutane) is an extremely effective acne medication that can help patients whose severe acne has not responded to other drugs.

17 Jul 2019

Maternal prepregnancy surgery linked to increased risk of opioid withdrawal in newborns

Babies whose mothers underwent surgery before pregnancy have an increased risk of opioid withdrawal symptoms at birth, according to a new study done at the University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre and published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

15 Jul 2019

Going teetotal shown to improve women’s mental health

A study by researchers at the University of Hong Kong has provided new evidence that women who stop drinking alcohol experience improved mental health.

10 Jul 2019

Concurrent use of benzodiazepine and opioids complicates neonatal abstinence syndrome

Babies born after being exposed to both opioids and benzodiazepines before birth are more likely to have severe drug withdrawal, requiring medications like morphine for treatment, compared to infants exposed to opioids alone, according to a Vanderbilt University Medical Center study published in Hospital Pediatrics.

1 Jul 2019

Birth, child outcomes linked with maternal opioid use during pregnancy

In utero exposure to opioids was associated with higher risks for short- and long-term adverse outcomes including preterm birth and neurodevelopmental and physical health disorders in children.

29 Jun 2019

Opioids are major cause of pregnancy-related deaths in Utah

Stephanie lay in the Salt Lake County jail bunk bed and thought, "Everything would be better if I just died."

28 Jun 2019

Research evaluates prenatal care providers' understanding of alcohol exposure and screening practices

There is no amount, pattern or timing of alcohol use during pregnancy proven safe for a developing fetus. Repeat: there is no amount, pattern or timing of alcohol use during pregnancy proven safe for a developing fetus.

13 Jun 2019

Nurses play key role in promoting compassionate care for patients with alcohol use disorder

Nurses play a critical role in promoting compassionate care for patients and families affected by alcohol use disorder, including evidence-based medication-assisted treatment approaches, according to a paper in the July/September Journal of Christian Nursing, official journal of the Nurses Christian Fellowship.

12 Jun 2019

Alzheimer's therapy may be effective in treating individuals addicted to opioids

Clinical trial results reveal that a medication used to treat Alzheimer's disease may also be an effective therapy for individuals addicted to opioids. The findings are published in The American Journal on Addictions.

6 Jun 2019

E-cigarettes much more effective for traditional cigarettes finds study

A new large study from University College London researchers has shown that people who use E-cigarettes to aid them in quitting traditional cigarette smoking are 95 percent more likely to succeed when compared to those who are not using any “stop-smoking aids”.

27 May 2019

Mindfulness may reduce depression symptoms for mothers with opioid use disorder

Mothers with opioid use disorder face many challenges as they work towards a more stable life for themselves and their children, depression not least among them.

21 May 2019

Integrated stepped alcohol treatment reduces alcohol use in people with HIV

People with HIV who drink too much were more likely to reduce drinking after undergoing an approach to care known as integrated stepped alcohol treatment, according to a Yale-led study.

20 May 2019

Limiting exposure to blue-light emitting devices can improve sleep in teens

Sleep in teenagers can be improved by just one week of limiting their evening exposure to light-emitting screens on phones, tablets and computers, according to findings to be presented in Lyon, at the European Society of Endocrinology annual meeting, ECE 2019.

20 May 2019

Study may help identify patients at relapse risk after treatment for cocaine use disorder

A study conducted at the University of São Paulo in Brazil and described in an article published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence may help healthcare workers identify patients who risk relapse after undergoing treatment for cocaine use disorder.

17 May 2019

Babies exposed to opioids prenatally react more strongly to pain

Babies exposed to opioids while their mothers were pregnant with them may need special care even before they start to experience withdrawal symptoms, according to Penn State research.

15 May 2019