SPIRITUAL TEENS, ADULTS LESS LIKELY TO ABUSE DRUGS, DRINK, STUDY SAYS

Though Underutilized, Religion Also Can Play Role In Treatment, Recovery
Programs, Researchers Say.

Teens and adults who consider religion or personal spirituality important
are far less likely to abuse alcohol and drugs than non-believers,
according to a new Columbia University study that analyzed three national
surveys.

Faith also plays a role in professional treatment programs, with those who
are successfully recovering from substance abuse often showing higher
levels of faith and spirituality than those who relapse, the study concludes.

Touted this week as the first analysis of its kind, the report by
researchers from the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at
Columbia adds support for the growing number of studies that suggest faith
or spirituality can help prevent or treat illness when brought into medical
care.

But the report also found that, despite this knowledge, most clergy and
health care professionals fail to use spirituality and religion as another
healing tool for addiction.

"There are lots of factors that influence whether an individual will use
alcohol or drugs," said Susan E. Foster, vice president and director of
policy research and analysis at the center. "Our point is that these are
factors that are very important in prevention and recovery and that they
are often overlooked."

According to the study:

. Adults who don't consider religious beliefs important are almost four
times more likely to use an illicit drug other than marijuana, and more
than 11/2 times more likely to drink or smoke.

. Teens in the same category are almost three times more likely to smoke or
use alcohol, and seven times more likely to use illicit drugs than teens
who placed a strong emphasis on religion.

But a separate survey of clergy by Columbia researchers showed that only
12.5 percent of priests, ministers and rabbis had any training on how to
address the issue with members of their congregations.

In addition, less than half of health care professionals said that they
would advise their patients to seek help from their religious leaders.

"We need to start taking advantage of this treatment and of the power that
could be employed to help in prevention," Foster said.

Despite the findings, not everyone is sold on the theory.

"To say definitely that it's good for people to practice religion is
jumping the gun," said Stephen Saunders, an associate professor in the
psychology department at Marquette University and a researcher with the
Center for Addictions and Behavioral Health Research.

"At this point, we cannot conclude that religion or spirituality actually
causes these things to happen, although they are correct when they say
there is an association.

"It might be," he said, "if people go once a week and meet with other
people who are friendly to them, who are less likely to drink and smoke,
maybe it's that experience and (not) religion."