Teen religiosity acts as buffer to pot

PROVO, Utah, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Religious teenagers' faith makes them half as likely to use marijuana and religiosity also buffers them from smoking and drinking, U.S. researcher say.

Brigham Young University sociologist John Hoffmann, a co-author of a study on teen religiosity, said the term has to do with people's participation in a religion and not the particular denomination. Hoffmann said the protective effect of church and spirituality supplements the influence of parents.

"Parents shouldn't force it, but they can encourage spirituality and religion in their families, which in itself becomes a positive influence in their children's lives," Hoffmann said in a statement.

Two data sets were used in the study, 13,534 students who participated in the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent Health and 4,983 adolescents in a state-wide survey of Utah schools. Individual religiosity was measured by two questions: one asked students how frequently they attended church and the other asked the importance of religion to them.

"The power of peers is less among youths who are religious," another co-author, BYU sociology Professor Stephen Bahr, said. "Meaning if you are religious, the pressure from peers to use drugs will not have as much effect."

The findings are published in the Journal of Drug Issues.