TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE

COOLIDGE ISD

SECONDARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

OVERVIEW

In the Spring of 1996, the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, in conjunction with
the Public Policy Research Institute at Texas A&M University, administered a survey to students
in grades 7 through 12 in the Coolidge Independent School District (CISD). A total of 79
students completed the questionnaire, which asked about students' experiences with alcohol and
drugs. Since no students were identified as exaggerators, all 79 surveys were included in
analysis.1

Students' responses to the questionnaire indicate that:

• Seventy-four* percent of Coolidge ISD students reported using tobacco at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 38 percent said they had used tobacco during
the past month (Fig. 2).2

• Fifteen percent of Coolidge ISD students said they smoke cigarettes on a daily basis,
while 2 percent reported using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis.

• Seventy-nine percent of Coolidge ISD students said they had used alcohol at least
once during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 44 percent reported using alcohol during
the past month (Fig. 2).

• Fourteen percent of Coolidge ISD 9th through 12th grade students said they had
driven a car at least once during the past year after having "a good bit to drink"
(Fig. 11).

• Lifetime use of inhalants was reported by 13 percent of Coolidge ISD students (Fig.
1), while past-month inhalant use was reported by 8 percent (Fig. 2).
1
The percentages referred to in the executive summary were taken from the tables found in "Part I: District
Survey Results." Due to the differences in rounding procedures, there may be slight discrepancies between the
percentages referred to in the tables and those reflected in the executive summary and in the corresponding
figures. Figures referenced throughout this report are included in "Part III: Executive Summary."

2
Data in this report marked with an asterisk are estimated to be statistically significant at the .01 level from
the comparable data for the state as a whole. This means that in only one of a hundred samples would a
difference this large have occurred when there was no difference between the district and state data. Differences
in very small districts will seldom be statistically significant due to the small number of cases. Differences that
are not marked may be important, but should be treated with more caution than those that are statistically
significant.

1
• Twenty-six percent of Coolidge ISD students reported using marijuana at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 11 percent said they had used marijuana during
the past month (Fig. 2).

• Coolidge ISD students are most likely to turn to friends for help with a drug or
alcohol problem (70 percent) and least likely to consult a medical doctor (44
percent) (Fig. 17).

Tobacco

Over the last two years, the general use of tobacco (including cigarettes and smokeless products)
among students statewide has increased slightly.3 Overall, the general use of tobacco products
among Coolidge ISD students is higher than that reported by their counterparts statewide.

Seventy-four* percent of Coolidge students reported general tobacco use at least once during
their lifetimes, a rate higher than that reported by students statewide (55 percent) (Fig. 1). 4
Thirty-eight percent of Coolidge ISD students said they had used a tobacco product during the
past month, compared to 26 percent of students statewide (Fig. 2).

Seventy-five* percent of Coolidge students reported smoking cigarettes at least once during their
lifetimes (53 percent statewide), 36 percent said they had smoked cigarettes during the past
month (25 percent statewide), and 15 percent reported smoking cigarettes on a daily basis (8
percent statewide), rates higher than those reported by students statewide. Twenty-one percent
of district students said most or all of their close friends smoke cigarettes (21 percent statewide).

Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 26 percent of CISD students (16
percent statewide), while 9 percent said they had used a smokeless tobacco product during the
past month (5 percent statewide), and 2 percent reported using a smokeless tobacco product on a
daily basis (1 percent statewide), rates somewhat higher than those reported by students
statewide. Six percent of district students said most or all of their close friends use smokeless
tobacco (5 percent statewide).

Alcohol

Alcohol is the most widely used substance among students statewide and in the Coolidge ISD.
Alcohol use among secondary students statewide has decreased slightly from that reported two

3
Statewide data is collected every other year. The statewide data used for comparison purposes in the district
report and executive summary is taken from the results of the survey administered in the Spring of 1996.

4
Due to the small number of students surveyed in this district, no between-grade comparisons can be made.

2
years ago. Overall, Coolidge ISD students appear to be drinking alcohol at rates somewhat
higher than those reported by their peers statewide.

Seventy-nine percent of Coolidge students reported consuming alcohol at least once during their
lifetimes (74 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Forty-four percent of Coolidge ISD students said they
had consumed alcohol during the past month (38 percent statewide) (Fig. 2).

The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by Coolidge students are beer (66 percent/56
percent statewide) and wine coolers (66 percent/58 percent statewide). Forty-two percent of
CISD students said they drink beer on a weekly or monthly basis (33 percent statewide), and 39
percent said they drink wine coolers weekly or monthly (31 percent statewide), rates somewhat
higher than those reported by students statewide.

"Binge drinking" is the consumption of five or more beers, wine coolers, servings of wine, or
drinks with liquor at one time. CISD students are "binge drinking" beer and wine coolers at rates
somewhat higher than those reported by their counterparts statewide. Fifty-six* percent of
Coolidge ISD students reported "binge drinking" beer at least once during their lifetimes (37
percent statewide), and 26 percent said they usually drink five or more beers at a time on average
when they drink (19 percent statewide). Lifetime "binge drinking" of wine coolers was reported
by 49 percent of CISD students (40 percent statewide), while 25 percent said they usually drink
five or more wine coolers at a time on average when they drink (18 percent statewide).

Seven percent of Coolidge students reported attending at least one class during the past school
year while "drunk" (9 percent statewide) (Fig. 9). Fourteen percent of CISD 9th through 12th
grade students said that they had driven a car after having "a good bit to drink" at least once
during the past year (15 percent statewide). Driving while intoxicated four or more times during
the past year was reported by 2 percent of district 9th through 12th graders (4 percent statewide)
(Fig. 11).

Students were asked about the availability of alcohol, its use among friends, and its use at parties.
Seventy-two percent of Coolidge ISD students said beer, wine, wine coolers, or liquor were
somewhat easy or very easy to obtain (75 percent statewide). Forty-one percent of district
students reported most or all of their close friends drink alcohol (37 percent statewide), and 40
percent responded "from friends" when asked where they obtained alcohol most of the time or
always (39 percent statewide). "Difficulties of any kind" with friends because of one's own
drinking was reported by 5 percent of CISD students (9 percent statewide).

Thirty-five percent of Coolidge students said alcohol was used at most or all of the parties they
attended in the past school year (37 percent statewide) (Fig. 13). Fifty-three percent of district
students responded "at parties" when asked where they obtain alcohol most of the time or always
(43 percent statewide), while 15 percent of CISD students said they get alcohol "from the store"
most of the time or always (17 percent statewide).

Parental attitudes can be a major factor in whether or not a student uses alcohol or drugs. When
asked how their parents feel about kids their age drinking beer, 63 percent of Coolidge students

3
said their parents strongly or mildly disapprove (76 percent statewide). Twenty-eight* percent of
district students said they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age drinking beer,
a rate higher than that reported by students statewide (9 percent). Five percent of CISD students
said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (10 percent statewide) (Fig. 15).

Inhalants5

In general, inhalants are common, licit substances (paints, thinners, correction fluid, glue, etc.)
which, when sniffed, huffed, or inhaled, produce an intoxicating effect. Over the last two years,
use of inhalants among students statewide has stayed about the same. Overall, Coolidge ISD
students appear to be using inhalants at rates somewhat lower than those reported by their
counterparts statewide.

Thirteen percent of Coolidge students reported using inhalants at least once during their lifetimes
(20 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Eight percent of Coolidge ISD students said they had used
inhalants during the past month (5 percent statewide) (Fig. 2).

Two percent of CISD students reported most or all of their close friends use inhalants (3 percent
statewide), and 2 percent said they had attended at least one class during the past school year
while "high" on inhalants (4 percent statewide). Seven percent of CISD students said they had
used two or more different kinds of inhalant substances during their lifetimes (12 percent
statewide).

The inhalant substances most frequently used by Coolidge students were those in the "other
inhalants" category (8 percent/8 percent statewide). Four percent of district students said they
had inhaled glue (5 percent statewide), 4 percent reported inhaling gasoline (5 percent
statewide), 4 percent said they had inhaled liquid/spray paint (7 percent statewide), 4 percent
reported inhaling paint thinner (5 percent statewide), 3 percent reported inhaling correction
fluid/Liquid Paper (9 percent statewide), and 2 percent said they had inhaled substances in the
"other sprays" category (4 percent statewide) at least once during their lifetimes (Fig. 7).
Illicit Drugs

Illicit drugs are defined as controlled substances and include marijuana, cocaine (powdered form
and crack), uppers (stimulants), downers (narcotics), hallucinogens, and ecstasy. Over the last
two years, the use of illicit drugs among students statewide has increased. The use of marijuana,
the most frequently used illicit substance, has also increased among students statewide over the
last two years.

In the Coolidge ISD, 27 percent of students reported use of illicit drugs at least once during their
lifetimes (34 percent statewide), while 22 percent of CISD students said they had used one or

5
Lifetime and current inhalant use figures have been adjusted to reflect reported use of both specific inhalants
and inhalant use generally. Some students responded positive to specific use without responding positive to
generic use. Some students responded positive to generic use but not specific inhalants.

4
more illicit substances three or more times (25 percent statewide). Statewide, students who said
they had used illicit drugs reported using them an average of 2.2 times in the past 30 days and 6.4
times during their lives. Coolidge students reported average usage rates of 0.6 times in the past
month and 3.8 times during their lifetimes.

Twenty-six percent of CISD students reported using marijuana at least once in their lifetimes (31
percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Past-month marijuana use was reported by 11 percent of Coolidge
ISD students (16 percent statewide) (Fig. 2).

Five percent of CISD students reported attending at least one class in the past year while
"stoned" on marijuana, a rate somewhat lower than that reported by students statewide (13
percent) (Fig. 10). Driving under the influence of drugs at least once during the past year was
reported by 4 percent of Coolidge ISD 9th through 12th grade students, in contrast to the 12
percent reported by 9th through 12th grade students statewide.

Thirty-four* percent of CISD students said marijuana was somewhat or very easy to obtain, a
rate considerably lower than that reported by students statewide (53 percent). Twenty-three
percent of CISD students reported most or all of their close friends use marijuana (21 percent
statewide), and 2 percent said they had gotten into "difficulties of any kind" with their friends
because of their own drug use (6 percent statewide). Seven* percent of the Coolidge ISD
students said that marijuana and/or other drugs were used at most or all of the parties they
attended during the school year, less than a third of the rate reported by their counterparts
statewide (23 percent).

When asked about parental attitudes toward marijuana use, Coolidge students reported a
disapproval rate of 75 percent (85 percent statewide). Twenty-two* percent of district students
said they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age using marijuana, a rate higher
than that reported by students statewide (8 percent). One percent of CISD students said their
parents neither approve nor disapprove of kids their age smoking marijuana (4 percent statewide)
(Fig. 15).

Other illicit substances are used by a few Coolidge ISD students. One* percent of CISD
students reported using uppers (8 percent statewide), 1 percent said they had used powdered
cocaine (7 percent statewide), and 1 percent reported using downers (6 percent statewide) at
least once during their lifetimes. None of the district students said they had ever used
hallucinogens (8 percent statewide), crack (3 percent statewide), steroids (2 percent statewide),
or ecstasy (5 percent statewide) (Fig. 1).

CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH DRUG USE

Statewide, female students were somewhat less likely to have used drugs than were male
students. In the Coolidge ISD, male students were somewhat more likely to have used inhalants
and over three times more likely to have smoked marijuana than were district female students. In
addition, CISD male students were the only reported users of powdered cocaine, uppers, or

5
downers in the district. There were no other significant differences by gender among CISD
students with regard to the use of tobacco products or alcohol.

When asked where they would go for help with a drug or alcohol problem, the largest percentage
of Coolidge students said they would seek help from their friends (70 percent/74 percent
statewide). Sixty-two percent of CISD students said they would turn to their parents for help
with a drug or alcohol problem (54 percent statewide), and 59 percent said they would seek help
from an adult friend or relative (58 percent statewide). District students are least likely to seek
help from a medical doctor (44 percent/38 percent statewide) (Fig. 17). Since school began in
the Fall, 7 percent of Coolidge students reported seeking help for any problems connected with
alcohol or drug use from someone other than family or friends (7 percent statewide).

Seventy-four percent of Coolidge ISD students said they had gotten information about drugs and
alcohol from a school source since classes began in the Fall (75 percent statewide). Fifty-six
percent of CISD students reported getting information about drugs and alcohol from a "health
class" (46 percent statewide). "An assembly program" was reported by 23* percent of district
students as a source for information about drugs and alcohol (44 percent statewide), while 22*
percent said "an invited school guest" was a source for this information (38 percent statewide),
rates lower than those reported by students statewide.

The influence of drug education programs may be reflected in students' attitudes toward the use
of specific substances. Ninety percent of Coolidge students believe that powdered cocaine use is
"very dangerous" (87 percent statewide), 85 percent believe that crack use is "very dangerous"
(88 percent statewide), and 83 percent believe that inhalant use is "very dangerous" (70 percent
statewide). Sixty-one percent of CISD students believe that marijuana use is "very dangerous"
(60 percent statewide), and 58 percent feel that it is "very dangerous" to use alcohol (44 percent
statewide). Only 43 percent of CISD students believe that tobacco use is "very dangerous" (39
percent statewide) (Fig. 13).