Does spirituality really help lower the risk of harmful or hazardous alcohol and drug use?A large new analysis looked at 55 long-term studies involving more than 540,000 people from teenagers to seniors.Across alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and other drugs, spiritual or religious involvement was linked to a 13% lower risk of harmful use or relapse.For people attending services weekly or more, the reduction reached 18%, according to the results.Researchers say nearly every study showed a protective — not harmful — association. Most focused on prevention, especially in young people.In one study of more than 5,000 teens, involvement in a spiritual community was tied to a 15% drop in smoking and a 33% drop in illicit drug use.Social support, shared values, and practices like prayer or meditation may play a role, according to the researchers.The authors say spirituality may have a role in prevention and recovery — but it must respect patient choice, culture, and evidence-based care.Source: JAMA PsychiatryAuthor Affiliations: Harvard University, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard Medical School, Mass General Brigham, Stanford University Medical Centers.Sign up for our weekly HealthDay newsletter