When I read this in the newspaper, the phrase abstain from struck me as wrong. I thought it should be refrain from, and I still feel that way, but I'm not sure why. What's the difference between the two?

They also recommend that physicians abstain from from teaching women how to examine their breasts for signs of cancer because of a lack of evidence that it is of any benefit.

Synonyms

I think of abstain as being permanent, while refrain as being temporary.