Initiatives that are delivered through or in partnership with faith communities and organisations. These approaches often draw on spiritual values, community networks, and pastoral support to promote wellbeing, prevent substance use, support recovery, and reduce stigma. Faith communities can play an important role in raising awareness, providing social support, facilitating referrals to professional services, and helping reintegrate individuals affected by substance use disorders. When combined with evidence-based practices and strong partnerships with health and social services, faith-based strategies can contribute meaningfully to comprehensive responses to substance use and related harms.
Faith-Based Strategies
The Role of Faith Communities in Addressing Substance Use and Crime – Reading List (Part 2)
In this second reading list, we continue exploring the growing evidence on the role and contribution of faith communities and faith-based organisations in addressing substance use and crime, with a particular focus on treatment engagement...
Spirituality and Harmful or Hazardous Alcohol and Other Drug Use
This meta-analysis synthesises evidence from 55 longitudinal studies involving more than 540,000 participants to examine the relationship between spirituality and harmful or hazardous alcohol and other drug (AOD) use. The findings...
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...
During, After, or Both? Isolating the Effect of Religious Support on Recidivism During Reentry
This study examines how religious support during and after incarceration influences substance use and recidivism among people returning to the community. Using data from the Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative, the authors...
Religion, Crime, and Criminal Justice
This chapter reviews the evidence on the relationship between religion, crime, and the criminal justice system. It highlights a growing body of research showing a consistent inverse association between religiosity and criminal behaviour...
Faith-Based Interventions for Reducing Gang Violence in the Caribbean: Reflections from a Professor and a Priest
This book chapter explores the role of faith-based interventions in preventing and reducing gang violence in Trinidad and Tobago. Drawing on the experiences of a criminologist and a religious leader, it argues that gang violence should be...
The Association Between Religiosity and Substance Use Patterns Among Women Involved in the Criminal Justice System
This study explores the relationship between religiosity and substance use patterns among women involved in the criminal justice system. Using data from women participating in a drug court programme in the United States, the researchers...
Religiosity and crime: Evidence from a city-wide shock
This study examines the relationship between religiosity and crime using data from the 2015 visit of Pope Francis to Philadelphia. By analysing daily crime reports before, during, and after the visit, the researchers found a significant...
The Role of Faith Communities in Addressing Substance Use and Crime – Reading List (Part 1)
In this reading list, we provide resources exploring the role of faith communities and faith-based organisations in addressing substance use, crime, violence and related social harms. Faith-based strategies draw on spiritual values...
Faith-Based Addiction Recovery
This article explores how faith-based recovery programs combine spiritual support with evidence-based addiction treatment to help people achieve and maintain recovery. These programs integrate religious beliefs and practices with services...