"Religious Involvement and Substance Abuse Among Adults," a
report based on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), provides a
snapshot of religiosity and sobriety among Americans. NSDUH is conducted by
the Office of Applied Studies in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration.
In 2005, about 168 million adults aged 18 or older (78.1 percent) said that
religious beliefs are a very important part of their lives, 75.1 percent
reported that religious beliefs influence how they make decisions in their
lives, and 30.8 percent attended religious services 25 times or more in the
past year.
Adults who attended religious services 25 times or more in the preceding
year were less likely to have used cigarettes, alcohol, or illicit drugs in
the past month than those who attended religious services fewer than 25
times.
About 6 percent of the adults who reported that religious beliefs are a
very important part of their lives used illicit drugs in the month prior to
the survey, compared with about 14 percent of adults who reported that
religious beliefs are not a very important part of their lives. Religiosity
has been identified in other research as an important protective factor
against substance use.
Public-opinion polling has shown that 63 percent of Americans were members
of a church or synagogue in 2006.
NSDUH compiles data on religious-service attendance and religious beliefs,
whether religious beliefs are a very important part of Americans' lives, and
whether their religious beliefs influence how they make decisions. NSDUH also
includes questions about use of cigarettes, alcohol, and illicit drugs during
the month prior to the interview. Illicit drugs refer to marijuana/hashish,
cocaine (including crack), inhalants, hallucinogens, heroin, and prescription
drugs used nonmedically.