Neighborhood disorder, individual religiosity and adolescent use of illicit drugs: A test of multilevel hypotheses

We hypothesize about the relationships among perceiveid neighborhood disord er, individual religiosity, and adolescent use of illicit drugs, marijuana and hard drugs; and the age-varying effects of religiosity on illicit drug use. Applying hierarchical linear models to analyze the National Youth Surv ey data, We first find that neighborhood disorder and religiosity have hypo thesized effects on illicit drug use independent of social bonding and soci al learning variables that partly mediate the effects. Second religiosity b uffers the effects of neighborhood disorder on illicit drug use. Third, the effects of religiosity on illicit drug use become stronger throughout adol escence The implications of the findings are discussed.