Teens Who Value Religion Use Less Substances
A SAMHSA data spotlight links strong religious belief among adolescents to lower alcohol, nicotine and illicit drug use, while cautioning against causal conclusions.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Substance Abuse
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The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration released a data spotlight examining adolescents aged 12 to 17 who consider religious beliefs very important. Prevalence of alcohol use, nicotine vaping, and illicit drug use was lower among those adolescents than among those who disagreed.
Why it matters
The findings add national survey data on a factor associated with adolescent substance use, which can inform prevention discussions. The publication stresses the association does not establish that religion reduces substance use or that substance use alters religious beliefs.
The data draws on the 2022-2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, with 68.4% of adolescents in 2025 agreeing religious beliefs were very important versus 60.8% in 2022. The publication does not address causality, and the direction of any relationship remains unresolved.
The players
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
A federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts on substance use and mental health.
The details
SAMHSA's spotlight compares substance use rates between adolescents aged 12 to 17 who agreed that religious beliefs were very important and those who disagreed. Lower rates of alcohol use, nicotine vaping, and illicit drug use were found overall, among both males and females, and across economic status.
Timeline
2022: 60.8% of adolescents agreed religious beliefs were very important.
2022-2025: NSDUH data period used in the spotlight.
2025: 68.4% of adolescents agreed religious beliefs were very important.
Late October 2026: SAMHSA released the data spotlight.
Big Picture
The spotlight is built on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the federal survey that has tracked substance use prevalence nationally and now links adolescent substance use to religious belief. It extends that survey's role by examining an attitude alongside behavior rather than reporting use rates alone.
Parents and caregivers can use these findings to start conversations about values and peer environments with teenagers. The data does not show that religious involvement prevents substance use, so it should not replace established prevention or treatment approaches.
The takeaway
Family and community connections can support healthy choices for teens, but this data shows association, not cause. Anyone seeking help for substance use can call or text 988 for crisis support.
Further reading
Explore more coverage in Substance Abuse.
More information
Find substance use treatment options near you through the federal FindTreatment.gov locator.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Gold Rush Cam.
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