Perkins, H. W. 1994. “The Contextual Effect of Secular Norms on Religiosity as Moderator of Student Alcohol and Other Drug Use.” Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion 6: 187-208.
In this study, the author investigates whether secular norms about drug use affect religious precepts that limit drug and alcohol use among college students. Relying on two surveys of a small New York State liberal arts college, Perkins finds that in general, high religiosity is associated with less drug and alcohol use. However, when students perceived that there was a strong norm against drug use, the effect of religion disappears for men, though it remains strong for women. Perkins argues that for men, religiosity’s ability to limit drug use is stronger where secular norms are more permissive.
