Adolescents who say religious beliefs are a very important part of their lives report markedly lower rates of alcohol use, nicotine vaping, and illicit drug use than peers who disagree, according to a new data spotlight from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
The report opens by noting that adolescent substance use remains a public health concern, even though rates have declined in recent years.
Drawing on data from the 2022–2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), researchers compared adolescents aged 12 to 17 who agreed or strongly agreed that religious beliefs are a very important part of their lives with those who disagreed or strongly disagreed.
The group that valued religious beliefs reported lower use across all three measures: 5.4% versus 8.6% for past month alcohol use, 5.2% versus 8.4% for past month nicotine vaping, and 11.5% versus 17.9% for past year illicit drug use.
Each difference was statistically significant. NSDUH is a national household survey of people aged 12 or older that collects information on substance use, mental health, and treatment receipt, with interviews conducted in person and on the web.
Illicit drug use in the survey includes marijuana, cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants, and methamphetamine, as well as the misuse of prescription drugs such as pain relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants, and sedatives.
Religious Beliefs Are Rising Among Adolescents
The share of adolescents who said religious beliefs were very important in their lives has grown during each year of the study period. In 2025, 68.4% agreed or strongly agreed, up from 60.8% in 2022, with 63.7% in 2023 and 64.1% in 2024. SAMHSA classifies the trend as an increase.
The Pattern Holds Across Sex and Income
Lower substance use among adolescents who valued religious beliefs appeared in every subgroup the spotlight examined.
The same pattern appeared within every federal poverty level category. Among adolescents with family incomes below the poverty line, estimates were 3.9% versus 6.0% for past month alcohol use, 5.8% versus 9.3% for nicotine vaping, and 11.9% versus 18.3% for past year illicit drug use.
Why Association Is Not Proof
SAMHSA is careful about what the numbers can say. The analyses are cross-sectional, so they describe associations rather than causes, and the agency notes the findings should not be read as evidence that religious beliefs reduce substance use or that substance use changes religious beliefs. Still, a consistent pattern appeared across multiple substances and demographic groups.
What This Means for Treatment Seekers
Prevention data like this matters to families weighing care for a teenager, because the forces that shape first use also shape recovery. Connection, community, and a sense of purpose, whatever their source, run through effective adolescent addiction treatment.
When a teen does need care, options range from outpatient counseling to residential treatment, and some families look for faith-based programs while others prefer secular approaches. What matters most is finding a licensed program that fits the adolescent’s needs and starting early.
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