Abstinence News and Research

RSS

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.

Sex-until-after-marriage programs in the United States have been ineffective study shows

Two research papers have been released that show that the abstinence-only-until-marriage (AOUM) programs and policies in the United States are ineffective by and large and have not been successful in reducing risky sexual behaviors or early initiation of sex. Studies have reported that these are programs that successfully withhold medically accurate information not to mention infringe on adolescent human rights and reinforce gender stereotypes. The findings are published in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

22 Aug 2017

Often missing in the health care debate: Women’s voices

Women, in particular, have a lot at stake in the fight over the future of health care. Not only do many depend on insurance coverage for maternity care and contraception, they are struck more often by such diseases as autoimmune conditions, osteoporosis, breast cancer and depression.

17 Aug 2017

Senate Democrats delay HHS nominee over women’s health funding

Last week, 65 administration nominees — including four to Health and Human Services — sailed through the Senate confirmation process by unanimous vote without any debate. One candidate left out was Dr. Brett Giroir, a Texas physician, who is the president's choice for assistant secretary of health.

10 Aug 2017

Ebola virus RNA can persist in semen of survivors two years after infection, researchers say

Ebola virus RNA can persist in the semen of survivors more than two years after the onset of infection researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have found.

2 Aug 2017

Effects of declining sperm counts on fertility, mortality and disease patterns in geographical areas: Study

There is a lack of definitive data on the actual trends of decline in sperm counts according to researchers despite it being a known fact. Researchers in a new study looked at a large population to find the exact data regarding this scenario and its effects on the society. They looked at the effects of fertility and geographical distribution on the sperm concentration as well as total sperm counts.

25 Jul 2017

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles can intensify inflammatory reaction in patients with colitis

Titanium dioxide, one of the most-produced nanoparticles worldwide, is being used increasingly in foodstuffs.

19 Jul 2017

Analysis looks at use of multiple substances in reproductive-age women who use opioids

The majority of reproductive-age and pregnant women who use opioids for non-medical purposes also use at least one other substance, ranging from nicotine or alcohol to cocaine, according to a University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health analysis.

30 Jun 2017

Wise Guys program targets young men to curb teenage pregnancy

In 2015, there were nearly 10,000 teenage pregnancies in North Carolina. "Teen parents are less likely to finish high school, less likely to be well employed, and less likely to be in committed and stable relationships," said Rick Brown, Youth Education Program Director at Children's Home Society of North Carolina.

28 Jun 2017

Deficits in attention and executive functioning linked to frequency of alcohol, drug use

Impairments in processing and using information that help with decision-making and planning simple tasks such as grocery shopping are linked with one's frequency of alcohol or drug use according to a new study.

21 Jun 2017

In Texas, abstinence-only programs may contribute to teen pregnancies

To understand why teen pregnancy rates are so high in Texas, meet Jessica Chester. When Chester was in high school in Garland, Texas, she decided to attend the University of Texas-Dallas. She wanted to become a doctor.

12 Jun 2017

Alcohol consumption during pregnancy may cause subtle facial changes in babies says new study

According to a newly published study, consuming moderate amounts of alcohol during pregnancy may cause some distinct facial changes in babies. These subtle changes in the facial features of the babies are non-detectable with the naked eye said researchers. They can be detected using a 3D analysis they said. The changes in the facial features of the babies included those to the nose, lips and eyes that were picked up by the computer. These changes could be seen in babies whose mothers took any amount of alcohol during pregnancy.

7 Jun 2017

Psychiatrist explains dangerous effects of cocaine addiction

Last year, almost a million in the UK people snorted, dabbed, smoked or injected cocaine, making it the second most popular drug in the country, after cannabis.

29 May 2017

Bedfont Scientific offers chance to win new Smokerlyzer for World No Tobacco Day

Bedfont Scientific Ltd.

From Bedfont® Scientific Ltd 25 May 2017

Researchers link intestinal fungi to increased risk of death in patients with alcoholic liver disease

Liver cirrhosis is the 12th leading cause of mortality worldwide and approximately half of those deaths are due to alcohol abuse.

23 May 2017

Medication-assisted treatment reduces negative health outcomes for pregnant women with OUD

Medication for addiction treatment (MAT) with buprenorphine or methadone is an appropriate and accepted treatment for pregnant women with opioid use disorder (OUD), according to a research review and update in the Journal of Addiction Medicine, the official journal of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM). The journal is published by Wolters Kluwer.

17 Apr 2017

'Love hormone' could hold key to treating drug addicts, say experts

Experts say oxytocin, a key hormone made naturally by the brain, could hold the key to treating drug addicts and help them avoid relapse.

12 Apr 2017

Study compares alcohol consumption during pregnancy across European countries

A study among over 7000 women in 11 European countries shows the proportion of women in Europe who drink alcohol when they know they are pregnant is lowest in Norway and highest in the UK.

11 Apr 2017

Regulations on electronic cigarettes may impact effectiveness as cessation tool, study reveals

A study published today in the journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research, reveals that regulations on electronic cigarettes (ECs) may impact their effectiveness as a cessation tool. This study might help explain some of the mixed results on the effectiveness of ECs that has been published in the literature.

5 Apr 2017

CBT program to promote alcohol abstinence among HIV-infected people could help save money

Public health research shows that alcohol may be a factor in more than 13 percent of deaths due to infectious diseases, including HIV.