Spirituality, Religiosity and Substance use: Evidence and Proposed Mechanisms - Abstract
Many studies have been pointing to the role of cultural, ethnical, and intrapersonal factors on substance use and abuse. From these several cultural factors, religious/spiritual beliefs appear to be important factors associated with substance use patterns. In the present article, we aim to review the relationship between spirituality, religiosity and substance use; to present the proposed mechanisms and to understand the role of spiritual interventions on substance use treatment. We found strong evidence that higher religious involvement, such as organizational religiosity (religious attendance), non-organizational religiosity (private religious practices), and some religious affiliations (Protestants) were associated with less use of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs. However, the possible mechanisms for this relation and the role of religiosity/spirituality for substance use treatment should be better explored.