Substance Use Among US Adults at Midlife: Risk Factors and Protective Factors Among National and Milwaukee Black American Samples

This study investigates how protective factors such as religious service attendance, spirituality, and social connectedness moderate the relationship between risk factors (pain interference and financial insecurity) and substance use among midlife adults in national and Milwaukee Black American samples. The findings indicate that while pain interference and financial insecurity are linked to substance use, religious service attendance and spirituality specifically moderate the impact of pain interference on substance use. The authors suggest that faith-based interventions may be beneficial for individuals experiencing pain interference or substance use issues.