Faith Matters

March 21, 2005 Issue

“Faith is an important protective factor against substance abuse among young people, irrespective of race or ethnicity,” said John Wallace, associate professor in Pitt’s School of Social Work, during a Feb. 24 lecture in the William Pitt Union’s Kurtzman Room. Wallace, who has studied the relationship between adolescent substance use and religion, said young people who attend religious services regularly and say religion is an important part of their lives are less likely to use marijuana and alcohol than are nonreligious young people. Although Wallace’s research has found African American adolescents to be more religious than their White counterparts, he said religion may be an even stronger deterrent against substance abuse among highly religious White teens than among highly religious Black ones. Wallace’s lecture was part of the Reed Smith Spring 2005 Lunchtime Speaker Series, sponsored by the Pitt School of Social Work’s Center on Race and Social Problems.

—Sharon S. Blake