SAMHSA Releases New NSDUH Data Spotlight on Religious Beliefs and Adolescent Substance Use

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (CBHSQ) has released a National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data spotlight publication, 2022–2025 Religious Beliefs and Substance Use among Adolescents.

The data spotlight examines the importance that adolescents aged 12 to 17 place on religious beliefs and the association with selected substance use measures based on data from the 2022–2025 NSDUH.

“These data reflect what other studies have shown, that there is a link between stronger religious beliefs and lower levels of substance use,” said SAMHSA Chief of Staff Dr. Timothy Westlake. “As we look at ways to prevent substance use among young people, it is important to understand the many factors that can support healthier choices and behaviors. These findings add to our understanding of the role that faith and other sources of meaning, connection, and support can play in adolescents’ lives.”

This NSDUH spotlight presents trends on the importance of religious beliefs in adolescents’ lives. The data shows that in 2025, more than two-thirds of adolescents (68.4%) agreed or strongly agreed that religious beliefs were very important in their lives, an increase from 60.8% in 2022.

The spotlight also shows that the prevalence of alcohol use, nicotine vaping, and illicit drug use were lower among adolescents who agreed or strongly agreed than among those who disagreed or strongly disagreed that religious beliefs were very important. Lower prevalence was found among adolescents overall, among both males and females, and across economic status.

“Faith communities are essential infrastructure in national drug prevention, providing critical frontline spiritual care,” said Dr. Monty Burks, Director of the Center for Faith at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). “At the Center, we are committed to empowering faith and community leaders with the resources and support needed to strengthen these protective networks. When government and houses of worship collaborate, we build an enduring scaffold of resilience that aids in protecting our youth from addiction.”

The publication notes that the findings should not be interpreted as evidence that religious beliefs reduce substance use or that substance use affects the importance that adolescents place on religious beliefs. However, the data shows that a consistent pattern of lower substance use was observed among adolescents who reported that religious beliefs were a very important part of their lives across multiple substances and demographic subgroups.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. To locate a treatment facility or provider, visit FindTreatment.gov.

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