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
TALK RECOVERY, TALK SAFE SPACES FOR MENTAL HEALTH
May is recognized globally as Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to encourage open conversations, challenge stigma, and promote emotional well-being for all. Across many cultures, however, men continue to face unique barriers when it...
The Opioid Crisis Practical Toolkit: Supporting Faith and Community Responses
This practical toolkit highlights the role of faith-based and community leaders in responding to the opioid crisis in the United States. Developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, it recognizes that community and faith...
Belief, Behavior, and Belonging: How Faith is Indispensable in Preventing and Recovering from Substance Abuse
This study reviews evidence on the role of faith and spirituality in preventing substance use and supporting recovery. It highlights that many addiction treatment programs in the United States include a spiritual component, particularly...
Strengthening Faith-Based Responses to Substance Use and Crime: ISSUP and CICAD to Host Knowledge Exchange Session in Latin America
ISSUP, in collaboration with the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD), will host a high-priority Knowledge Exchange Session on Faith-Based Approaches, bringing together ISSUP National Chapters across Latin America to...
2026 National Drug Control Strategy - The White House
The 2026 National Drug Control Strategy outlines a comprehensive roadmap to reduce illicit drug use and protect communities across the United States. It prioritizes stopping the flow of drugs and precursor chemicals at all borders through...
Faith-based intervention, change in religiosity, and abstinence among people with substance use disorders
This study examines how changes in religiosity influence recovery outcomes among people in addiction treatment. It finds that individuals in faith-based programs show higher and increasing levels of religiosity over time, which is linked to...
Religious Community and Faith vs. Substance Use Disorder
ISSUP Global presents a webinar on, "The Religious Community and Faith in the Face of Substance Use Disorder"
Recovery Capital
Recovery capital includes all the internal and external resources that a person has at their disposal to help them get engaged in and subsequently build and strengthen their recovery. The more recovery capital one has, the stronger their...
Understanding alcohol use disorder and help-seeking in a Hispanic faith-based community
Abstract Introduction Hispanic Americans are disproportionately affected by alcohol use disorders (AUD) yet many are reluctant to seek alcohol treatment. Faith-based communities could serve as an effective setting for raising awareness and...
INTERSECTION OF SCIENCE AND SPIRITUALITY IN RECOVERY
The reality that recovery from substance use disorders (SUD) can emerge through multiple pathways and not be linear, too, was powerfully demonstrated during the January Pathways to Progress Summit hosted by the 1:11 Project Africa at...