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Racial Differences in Desistance From Substance Abuse

The Impact of Religious Involvement on Recovery

Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, dchu{at}astate.edu

Hung-En Sung

John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York

This study examines variations by race in the relationship between religiosity and desistance from substance abuse. Although most studies have included race as a control variable, only a few studies compared the equivalence of associations among religiosity, delinquency, recovery from substance abuse, and other variables between Black and White samples. Using data from the intake and 12-month follow-up survey of the Drug Abuse Treatment Outcome Study, this study examines levels of religious involvement of Black and White drug treatment clients. In addition, it empirically tests whether religious involvement exerts differential effects on Black and White clients’ recovery from substance abuse. It was found that Black clients reported higher levels of religious involvement (measured by church attendance) than did White clients. Data indicated that religious behavior at 1-year follow-up was positively associated with Black clients’ recovery from substance abuse. In contrast, religious behavior was not a significant predictor of White clients’ desistance from substance abuse. Directions for future research and policy implications are discussed.

Key Words: religiosity • religion • religious involvement • church attendance • desistance • drug use • religious behavior • race • recovery • race and drug use

This version was published on December 1, 2009

International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, Vol. 53, No. 6, 696-716 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/0306624X08320207


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