A new study finds that involvement in a spiritual or religious community, service attendance, meditation, and prayer can reduce an individuals’ risk of dangerous alcohol and drug use by 13%. This reduction was even greater (18%) for individuals attending religious services at least once per week. The results were consistent across all substances studied (alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and illicit drugs). Drawn from longitudinal data, the findings are the strongest evidence to date that spirituality — particularly participation in a religious community — significantly lowers rates of substance use and misuse. Researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health pinpointed key trends at the intersection of religion and health following a meta-analysis of 55 longitudinal studies published in the 21st century. Some of the most staggering statistics are those leading into the research. According to CDC figures, 48.5 million people in the U.S. alone have a substance use disorder. Nearly 180,000 die each year from excessive alcohol use, and more than 105,000 died from overdoses in 2023 — nearly 80,000 due to opioids. The Templeton Religion Trust funded the project through a $479,000 grant with the aim of understanding the dynamic between religion and health.
