There is a powerful religious commitment among people in America; nearly 92% of the population is affiliated with a specific religion. This report presents findings from a 2-year study of the attitudes and experiences of clergy regarding substance abuse and the training they received in schools of theology or in seminaries. Too often clergy and physicians do not overlap their care, something that could help recovery and ease the pain of substance abuse clients. Prior research from the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse has identified a helpful connection between spiritual and religious practices and a lower risk for substance abuse or addiction. A main finding of this study suggests that a better understanding by clergy of the disease of addiction and a better appreciation by helping professionals, especially psychiatrists and psychologists, about the power of God, religion, and spirituality holds enormous potential for the prevention and treatment of substance abuse. (Contains 1 table, 10 figures, and 124 references.) (JDM)