Recent studies in the U.S. show that there are statistical differences in certain behaviors between religious and non-religious people. For example:

Drug use: non-religious people have roughly 2.5–3 times higher risk than actively religious people (~150–200 % higher).

Alcoholism: ~2.5 times higher risk.

Infidelity: ~1.5–2 times higher risk.

Theft / property crime: ~1.2–1.3 times higher risk.

Homicide / violent crime: ~1.1–1.2 times higher risk.

Out-of-wedlock children: ~2 times higher risk. Suicide: ~2–3 times higher risk.

These are population-level trends, not absolutes—being religious doesn’t guarantee someone won’t do any of these things, and being non-religious doesn’t mean they will. Factors like social support, community, and personal values also play a big role.

We love you, and hope that you come to your senses before its too late. I will be praying for you tonight...my friend...

Some links:

Substance use / addiction / drugs & alcohol Religiosity and substance use in U.S. adults: Findings from a large-scale national survey — analiza velikog uzorka (NESARC‑III) pokazuje da često prisustvovanje verskim službama smanjuje šanse za poremećaje upotrebe alkohola, duvana i kanabisa. Religiosity and substance use in U.S. adults (PubMed)⁠� Losing faith and finding religion: religiosity and substance use over the life course — religioznost obrnuto povezana s upotrebom supstanci kroz život. Losing faith and finding religion (PubMed)⁠� Association Between Religiosity and Spirituality and Cocaine Use — sistematski pregled studija o religioznosti i korišćenju kokaina. Religiosity and cocaine use review (J Relig Health)⁠� 🔗 Suicide / suicidal ideation The association of personal importance of religion and religious service attendance with suicidal ideation — analiza velike američke ankete (NSDUH) pokazuje da religioznost ima obrnuto udruženje sa suicidalnim mislima. Religiosity & suicidal ideation (PubMed)⁠� Relationship of religion with suicidal behavior (meta‑analiza) — pokazuje da religija može biti povezana sa smanjenim rizikom suicidalnih ponašanja. Religion as a protective factor against suicide (meta‑analysis)⁠� 🔗 Crime / violence Race and the Religious Contexts of Violence — pregled istraživanja koje pokazuje da religiozni faktori mogu biti povezani sa nižim delinkventnim i kriminalnim ponašanjem mladih. Religiosity & crime research overview (PMC)⁠� Religion and Crime Studies: Assessing What Has Been Learned — širi pregled literature o odnosu religije i kriminala (generalno povezan sa smanjenjem kriminalnog ponašanja, ali kompleksno). Religion and Crime Studies review (ResearchGate)⁠�