Abstinence is considered as voluntarily restraining oneself from physiological activities that provide pleasure or excitement. The most common forms of abstinence relate to food, alcoholic consumption, or human interaction.

Fact 1. Studies indicate that older people who affiliate with fundamentalist churches are more prone to abstain from the drinking of alcohol.

Fact 2.  One of the ways of preventing unwanted pregnancies is by abstaining from sex. This form of abstinence became a well-publicized form of birth control in the USA in the 1990s. It also prevented the occurrence of sexually transmitted diseases.

Fact 3.  In 2004, a total of $131 million was allocated by Congress to abstinence initiatives within the high school and middle school systems. 

Fact 4.  The Abstinence Education Program, which began in 1997, promotes the idea of sexual abstinence being the best choice until marriage.

Fact 5.   According to Sigmund Freud, abstinence from sex and the diversion to other activities is termed as sublimation.

Fact 6. Abstinence from food can range from avoiding certain foods to all foods which is fasting. Abstinence from food, if not for religious purposes, can be a method to refrain from compulsive eating.

Fact 7. Abstinence is a conscious act, freely chosen, and is distinguished from repression which is an unconscious act with ill-effects.

Fact 8.  Abstaining from alcohol is known as teetotalism.

Fact 9.  Abstinence from drugs is the stopping of the usage of drugs which can be an addictive habit. The stopping of the drug can cause withdrawal shock syndromes.

Fact 10. In order to alleviate the negative effects of smoking on the healing of wounds, the recommended medical advice is total abstinence from smoking.