Association Between Religiosity and Spirituality and Cocaine Use: A Systematic Review

This systematic review examines the association between religiosity, spirituality, and cocaine use by analysing findings from 20 observational studies involving adults and adolescents. Most studies found that higher levels of religiosity were associated with lower lifetime and current cocaine use, suggesting that religious engagement may serve as a protective factor against substance use.

The review also highlights important exceptions. One study involving sexual minority participants found that certain forms of private religious practice were associated with higher cocaine use, while several others reported mixed or no significant associations. Overall, the authors conclude that religiosity may contribute to reducing cocaine use, although the predominance of cross-sectional studies means that causal relationships cannot be established. They recommend more longitudinal research to better understand these associations and explore how faith-based environments may support substance use prevention.