This study compares 41 Black and 124 White adolescents at intake and discharge from a residential treatment program for substance dependence. Data were obtained from a parent study (N = 195) that sought to assess the relationship of helping behavior and addiction recovery. This post-hoc analysis aims to identify cultural strengths that may be associated with recovery from substance use disorder among Black adolescents. Using regression analyses and controlling for severity of substance use and background variables that distinguish racial groups, we examine the extent to which religious practices and behaviors at intake produce greater benefit to the sample of adolescents. Specifically, we compare Black youth with White youth on treatment outcome measures including alcohol or drug use during treatment, drug craving, 12-Step work, and 12-Step helping. The burden of health and socioeconomic disparities at intake did not disproportionately disfavor Black adolescents; although 12-Step related outcomes were similar between Black and White youth, White adolescents reported higher craving scores at discharge and Black adolescents were more likely to use drugs during treatment. High levels of religiousness at treatment intake were linked to greater of 12-Step work and greater 12-Step helping behaviors at discharge, but high levels of religiousness at intake were not related to drug use during treatment or to craving scores at discharge. The relationship between intake levels of religiousness and treatment-related outcomes was similar for all youth, with no differences found in these relationships between Blacks and Whites.