Religiosity, spirituality, and substance use disorders in children, adolescents, and transitional-aged youth

Evidence suggests that religiosity and spirituality (R/S) are associated with substance use disorders (SUDs) in youth. At times protective, in other contexts a risk factor, R/S is associated with both an increased risk and decreased risk for SUDs, depending on the context. The objective of the Symposium is to: 1) provide a broad review and update on R/S and SUDs in youth; 2) present new research on 4 published or soon-to-be published manuscripts on R/S and SUDs in youth; and 3) teach attendees how to critically examine the literature on R/S and SUDs in youth. To begin, we present an up-to-date systematic review of R/S and SUDs in youth. The next 3 presentations focus specifically on a large cohort (N > 2000) of participants in the Boricua Youth Study, an epidemiologic sample of Puerto Rican youth in New York and San Juan, Puerto Rico. The first shares results from a paper that investigates the role of affiliation/nonaffiliation with specific religious traditions. The second presents a paper on R/S and SUDs, focusing specifically on those who identify as spiritual but not religious (SBNRs), or “none.” And the final presentation examines the interaction of trauma in the association between R/S and SUDs in youth. Dhatri Abeyaratne, BA, presents on a systematic review that summarizes 113 studies that investigate the association between a variety of measures of R/S and SUDs, finding that the majority of studies report beneficial outcomes for R/S when it comes to SUD. Tamara Sussman, PhD, and colleagues found that religious nonaffiliation was associated with increased risk of certain SUDs when compared to specific religious traditions (ie, Catholics). David Saunders, MD, PhD, and colleagues describe the emergence of SBNR youth, and its impact on SUD risk in transitional-aged youth. Finally, Sara VanBronkhorst, MD, and colleagues found that family religiosity may increase a child’s vulnerability to the effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACES), perhaps through negative religious coping. The literature on R/S and SUDs in youth continues to evolve as R/S themselves evolve; new generations encounter R/S practices and beliefs, and the type of and method of substance use changes. This Symposium will update the attendee on the latest developments on the topic.