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.

Measuring the receipt of medications and behavioral health services for AUD

Heavy drinking commonly begins in adolescence and is a known risk factor for the development of alcohol use disorder (AUD). Data from adult clinical trials suggest offering evidence-based medications for AUD to younger adults could promote their engagement in treatment and improve clinical outcomes.

15 Jun 2023

Males are significantly more vulnerable than females to overdose deaths

Men were significantly more vulnerable than women to overdose deaths involving opioid and stimulant drugs in 2020-2021, according to a new study analyzing death records data from across the United States. The study found that men had a 2–3 times greater rate of overdose mortality from opioids (like fentanyl and heroin) and psychostimulants (like methamphetamine and cocaine).

15 Jun 2023

Harm reduction treatment for alcohol use disorder can also reduce the use of other substances

Quitting alcohol or drugs was not a top priority for people experiencing homelessness in a harm reduction treatment study, yet participants still reduced their use of both.

14 Jun 2023

Foster kids in casino hotels? It happened in rural Nevada amid widespread foster home shortages

Brandy Holbrook spent April driving hundreds of miles across four counties in northeastern Nevada to deliver a plea to local leaders about a smoldering crisis in the regional foster care system.

14 Jun 2023

Young people are having less sex than their parents did at their age. Researchers explore why.

Young adults aren't behaving the way their parents did: They're not drinking as much, they're facing more mental health challenges, and they're living with their parents longer. On top of that, computer games and social media have become a sort of stand-in for physical relationships.

22 May 2023

Experts identify key measures to reduce alcohol consumption in Germany

Research paper discusses the high levels of alcohol consumption in Germany and proposes enhancing alcohol health literacy as a way to reduce consumption. The aim of the study is to identify and prioritize measures to improve alcohol health literacy.

15 May 2023

The potential variations in sperm quality of infertile patients during the COVID-19 pandemic

A recent study investigated how SARS-CoV-2 infection affected the semen quality of infertile men in Tunisia.

10 May 2023

Study warns of strong link between cannabis use and adverse psychosocial events in adolescents, regardless of disorder classification

Study aimed to investigate the prevalence and demographics of nondisordered cannabis use (NDCU) and to compare the associations of cannabis use with adverse psychosocial events among adolescents with no cannabis use, NDCU, and cannabis use disorder (CUD).

5 May 2023

Disparities in brain development of children can be mitigated through anti-poverty programs

States that provide stronger social safety nets have lower socioeconomic disparities in the brain development and mental health of children 9 to 11 years old, according to research supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) at the National Institutes of Health.

2 May 2023

Insomnia drug shows potential as an effective treatment for opioid use disorder

The insomnia drug suvorexant (Belsomra) might be an effective treatment for opioid use disorder, according to a preclinical study from Scripps Research.

27 Apr 2023

Prenatal exposure to cannabinoids linked to newborn mortality and respiratory problems

Consumption of cannabis (marijuana) or derivatives during pregnancy can cause respiratory problems for the baby, such as impaired control of breathing and diminished sensitivity to carbon dioxide, both of which favor sudden infant death syndrome.

25 Apr 2023

Study identifies various biomarkers of moderate alcohol intake and alcoholic beverages

Researchers determined and validated ethanol intake biomarkers that can be used to accurately assess alcohol intake.

21 Apr 2023

Buprenorphine can be safely started in the ER without triggering withdrawal even for people using stronger opioids

Results from a multi-site clinical trial supported by the National Institutes of Health showed that less than 1% of people with opioid use disorder whose drug use includes fentanyl experienced withdrawal when starting buprenorphine in the emergency department.

30 Mar 2023

$50 billion in opioid settlement cash is on the way. We’re tracking how it’s spent.

More than $50 billion in settlement funds is being delivered to thousands of state and local governments from companies accused of flooding their communities with opioid painkillers that have left millions addicted or dead.

30 Mar 2023

Discontinuing use of THC may reverse its effects on male fertility

A 2022 study from Oregon Health & Science University researchers confirmed that chronic use of cannabis may greatly impact male fertility and reproductive outcomes in nonhuman primates - but it was unclear whether the effects are permanent.

27 Mar 2023

Shorter ejaculation abstinence times linked to better reproductive outcomes during fertility treatments

Researchers evaluate the association between ejaculatory abstinence time, rates of pregnancies and live births, and DNA fragmentation.

20 Mar 2023

Smoking cessation drug may help people stop using cocaine while in treatment for OUD

For some people receiving methadone for treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD), the co-use of opioids and stimulants such as cocaine is an issue.

15 Mar 2023

Physical activity and motivational support have no long-term effects on smoking cessation

Promoting physical activity and other behavioral support can help people wanting to reduce their smoking to quit in the short-term.

6 Mar 2023

South Dakota's 24/7 Sobriety Program linked to lower mortality rates

A statewide alcohol-monitoring program that requires people arrested for drunk driving and other alcohol-involved offenses to be tested frequently for alcohol use can reduce the likelihood that participants die for several years after their involvement with the program, according to a new RAND Corporation study.

1 Mar 2023

Determining the role of the epigenetic enzyme, HDAC5, in an animal model

Substance use disorder (SUD) is an extremely difficult disorder to overcome, and many individuals with SUD return to regular use after repeated attempts to quit.

27 Feb 2023