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In the Spring of 1995, 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 8, 10, and 12 in the Shamrock Independent School District (SISD). A total of 82 students
completed the questionnaire, which asked about students' experiences with alcohol and drugs. Of
that number, 5 surveys were excluded from analysis because the students did not indicate their
grade or age, or because they were identified as exaggerators (i.e., claimed to have used a
non-existent drug or reported overly excessive drug use). The final number of surveys included in
the overall district analysis was 77.1

Students' responses to the questionnaire indicate that:

‡Sixty-nine percent of Shamrock ISD students reported using tobacco at least once during
their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 30 percent said they had used tobacco during the past
month (Fig. 2).

‡Thirteen percent of Shamrock ISD students said they smoke cigarettes on a daily basis,
while 1 percent reported using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis.

‡Seventy-five percent of Shamrock ISD students said they had used alcohol at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 46 percent reported using alcohol during the past
month (Fig. 2).

‡Eight percent of Shamrock ISD students reported attending at least one class during the
past year while "drunk," and 30 percent of district 10th and 12th grade students
said they had driven a car at least once during the past year after having "a good bit
to drink."

‡Lifetime use of inhalants was reported by 15 percent of Shamrock ISD students (Fig. 1),
while none of the students reported past-month inhalant use (Fig. 2).

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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."

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‡Fifteen percent of Shamrock ISD students reported using marijuana at least once during
their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 4 percent said they had used marijuana during the past
month (Fig. 2).

‡Shamrock ISD students are most likely to turn to friends for help with a drug or alcohol
problem (79 percent) and least likely to consult a counselor or program in school
(22 percent) (Fig. 17).

Tobacco

Between 1992 and 1994, the general use of tobacco (including cigarettes and smokeless products)
among students statewide stayed much the same.2 Overall, the general use of tobacco products
among Shamrock ISD students is somewhat higher than that reported by their counterparts
statewide.

Sixty-nine percent of Shamrock students reported general tobacco use at least once during their
lifetimes, compared to 57 percent of students statewide (Fig. 1).3 Thirty percent of Shamrock ISD
students said they had used a tobacco product during the past month (26 percent statewide) (Fig.
2).

Sixty-three percent of Shamrock students reported smoking cigarettes at least once during their
lifetimes, a rate somewhat higher than that reported by students statewide (55 percent). Twenty-
five percent of SISD students said they had smoked cigarettes during the past month (24 percent
statewide). Smoking cigarettes on a daily basis was reported by 13 percent of district students (8
percent statewide). Fourteen percent of district students said most or all of their close friends
smoke cigarettes, a rate somewhat lower than that reported by their peers statewide (21 percent).

Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 37* percent of SISD students, a rate
higher than that reported by their peers statewide (19 percent).4 Twelve percent of Shamrock
students said they had used a smokeless tobacco product during the past month (6 percent
statewide). Using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis was reported by 1 percent of
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2
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 1994.
3
Due to the small number of students surveyed in this district, no between-grade comparisons can be made.
4
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.

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district students (2 percent statewide), and 1 percent said most or all of their close friends use
smokeless tobacco (6 percent statewide).

Alcohol

Alcohol is the most widely used substance among students statewide and in the Shamrock ISD.
Alcohol use among secondary students statewide in 1994 was similar to that reported in 1992.
Overall, Shamrock ISD students are drinking alcohol at rates somewhat similar to those reported
by their peers statewide.

Seventy-five percent of Shamrock students reported consuming alcohol at least once during their
lifetimes (78 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Forty-six percent of Shamrock ISD students said they
had consumed alcohol during the past month (42 percent statewide) (Fig. 2).

The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by Shamrock students are beer (70 percent/63
percent statewide) and wine coolers (67 percent/64 percent statewide). Forty-one percent of SISD
students said they drink beer on a weekly or monthly basis (40 percent statewide), and 33 percent
said they drink wine coolers weekly or monthly (36 percent statewide).

"Binge drinking" is the consumption of five or more beers, wine coolers, servings of wine, or
drinks with liquor at one time. Fifty-seven percent of Shamrock ISD students reported "binge
drinking" beer at least once during the past year (42 percent statewide), while 37* percent said they
usually drink five or more beers at a time on average when they drink (22 percent statewide), rates
higher than those reported by students statewide. Past-year "binge drinking" of wine coolers was
reported by 53 percent of SISD students (43 percent statewide), while 26 percent said they usually
drink five or more wine coolers at a time on average when they drink (20 percent statewide), rates
somewhat higher than those reported by their counterparts statewide.

Eight percent of Shamrock students reported attending at least one class during the past school
year while "drunk" (10 percent statewide) (Fig. 9). Thirty percent of SISD 10th and 12th grade
students said that they had driven a car after having "a good bit to drink" at least once during the
past year, compared to 18 percent of 10th and 12th grade students statewide. Driving while
intoxicated four or more times during the past year was reported by 15 percent of district 10th and
12th graders, a rate higher than that reported by 10th and 12th graders statewide (5 percent) (Fig.
11).

Students were asked about the availability of alcohol, its use among friends, and its use at parties.
Eighty-three percent of Shamrock ISD students said beer, wine, wine coolers, or liquor were
somewhat easy or very easy to obtain (80 percent statewide). Forty-eight percent of district
students reported most or all of their close friends drink alcohol (44 percent statewide), and 50
percent responded "from friends" when asked where they obtained alcohol most of the time or

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always (44 percent statewide). "Difficulties of any kind" with friends because of one's own
drinking was reported by 14 percent of SISD students (10 percent statewide).

Fifty-five percent of Shamrock students said alcohol was used at most or all of the parties they
attended in the past school year, a rate higher than that reported by their counterparts statewide (44
percent) (Fig. 12). Thirty-nine percent of district students responded "at parties" when asked
where they obtain alcohol most of the time or always (47 percent statewide), while 12 percent of
SISD students said they get alcohol "from the store" most of the time or always (23 percent
statewide), rates somewhat lower than those reported by students 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, 73 percent of Shamrock students
said their parents strongly or mildly disapprove (76 percent statewide). Nine percent of district
students said they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age drinking beer (9 percent
statewide), and 14 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (12 percent statewide)
(Fig. 15).

Inhalants

In general, inhalants are common, licit substances (paints, thinners, correction fluid, glue, etc.)
which, when sniffed, huffed, or inhaled, produce an intoxicating effect. Between 1992 and 1994,
use of inhalants among students statewide decreased somewhat. Overall, Shamrock ISD students
are using inhalants at rates somewhat similar to those reported by their counterparts statewide.

Fifteen percent of Shamrock students reported using inhalants at least once during their lifetimes
(19 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). None of the Shamrock ISD students said they had used inhalants
during the past month (5 percent statewide) (Fig. 2).

None of the SISD students reported most or all of their close friends use inhalants (3 percent
statewide), and 1 percent said they had attended at least one class during the past school year while
"high" on inhalants (3 percent statewide). Five percent of SISD students said they had used two or
more different kinds of inhalant substances during their lifetimes, a rate somewhat lower than that
reported by their peers statewide (12 percent).

Seven percent of Shamrock students reported using correction fluid/Liquid Paper (10 percent
statewide), 6 percent said they had inhaled liquid/spray paint (7 percent statewide), 5 percent
reported inhaling gasoline (6 percent statewide), 3 percent reported inhaling substances in the
"other sprays" category (4 percent statewide), and 2 percent reported inhaling substances in the
"other inhalants" category (8 percent statewide) at least once during their lifetimes (Fig. 7).

Illicit Drugs
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Illicit drugs are defined as controlled substances and include marijuana, cocaine (powdered form
and crack), uppers (stimulants), downers (narcotics), hallucinogens, and ecstasy. Between 1992
and 1994, the use of illicit drugs among students statewide increased. The use of marijuana, the
most frequently used illicit substance, also increased among students statewide over that two-year
period.

In the Shamrock ISD, 19 percent of students reported use of illicit drugs at least once during their
lifetimes (30 percent statewide), while 15 percent of SISD students said they had used one or more
illicit substances three or more times (21 percent statewide), rates somewhat lower than those
reported by students statewide. Statewide, students who said they had used illicit drugs reported
using them an average of 1.6 times in the past 30 days and 4.7 times during their lives. Shamrock
students reported average usage rates of 0.0 times in the past month and 2.3 times during their
lifetimes.

Fifteen percent of SISD students reported using marijuana at least once in their lifetimes,a rate
lower than that reported by students statewide (28 percent) (Fig. 1). Past-month marijuana use
was reported by 4 percent of Shamrock ISD students, compared to 13 percent of students
statewide (Fig. 2).

Two percent of SISD students reported attending at least one class in the past year while "stoned"
on marijuana, a rate somewhat lower than that reported by their peers statewide (10 percent) (Fig.
10). Driving under the influence of drugs at least once during the past year was reported by 7
percent of Shamrock ISD 10th and 12th grade students (9 percent statewide).

Thirty-six percent of SISD students said marijuana was somewhat or very easy to obtain (52
percent statewide), and 2* percent reported most or all of their close friends use marijuana (17
percent statewide), rates lower than those reported by students statewide. Four percent of district
students said they had gotten into "difficulties of any kind" with their friends because of their own
drug use (5 percent statewide). Eight percent of the Shamrock ISD students said that marijuana
and/or other drugs were used at most or all of the parties they attended during the school year, a
rate lower than that reported by their counterparts statewide (19 percent).

None of the Shamrock ISD students who had not been absent since the Fall reported having used
marijuana during the past month (7 percent statewide), while 10 percent who said they had missed
four or more days of school reported past-month marijuana use (16 percent statewide). Two
percent of district students who had not gotten into trouble with school officials reported using
marijuana within the past 30 days (5 percent statewide). By contrast, 14 percent of district
students who had gotten into trouble with school officials on four or more days reported using
marijuana during the past 30 days (33 percent statewide).

When asked about parental attitudes toward marijuana use, Shamrock students reported a
disapproval rate of 90 percent (88 percent statewide). Eight percent of district students said they
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"don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age using marijuana (7 percent statewide),
while 1 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (4 percent statewide) (Fig. 15).

Uppers are the next most frequently used illicit substance among Shamrock ISD students (11
percent/8 percent statewide). Six percent of SISD students said they had used hallucinogens (7
percent statewide), 6 percent said they had used powdered cocaine (6 percent statewide), 4 percent
reported using downers (5 percent statewide), 4 percent said they had used steroids (2 percent
statewide), and 1 percent reported using crack (2 percent statewide) at least once during their
lifetimes. None of the district students reported ever using ecstasy (2 percent statewide) (Fig. 1).


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Statewide, female students were less likely to have used drugs than were male students. In the
Shamrock ISD, male students were somewhat more likely to report tobacco or alcohol use, more
than twice as likely to report uppers use, and over three times more likely to report marijuana use
than were district female students. In addition, SISD male students were the only reported users of
powdered cocaine or steroids. District females, on the other hand, were the only students to report
crack use. There were no other significant differences by gender among SISD students with regard
to the use of inhalants, hallucinogens, or downers.

In the statewide survey, students living in two-parent homes reported lower drug use than did
students living in other family situations. SISD students living in other family situations were
somewhat more likely to report use of tobacco or downers, nearly three times more likely to report
the use of uppers, and over three times more likely to report the use of marijuana or powdered
cocaine than were those district students living in homes with two parents. District students living
in two-parent homes, on the other hand, were the only students to report crack use. There were no
other significant differences by living arrangement among Shamrock ISD students with regard to
the use of alcohol, inhalants, hallucinogens, or steroids.

When asked where they would go for help with a drug or alcohol problem, the largest percentage
of Shamrock students said they would seek help from their friends (79 percent/76 percent
statewide). Sixty-four percent of SISD students said they would seek help from an adult friend or
relative (57 percent statewide), and 58 percent said they would turn to their parents (53 percent
statewide). District students are least likely to seek help from a counselor or program in school (22
percent), a rate lower than that reported by students statewide (33 percent) (Fig. 17). Since school
began in the Fall, 6 percent of Shamrock students reported seeking help for any problems
connected with alcohol or drug use from someone other than family or friends (6 percent
statewide).

Seventy-eight percent of Shamrock ISD students said they had gotten information about drugs and
alcohol from a school source since classes began in the Fall (79 percent statewide). "An assembly
program" was reported by 67 percent of district students as a source for information about drugs
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and alcohol, a rate higher than that reported by students statewide (54 percent). Forty-eight
percent of Shamrock students said "an invited school guest" was a source for information about
drugs and alcohol (46 percent statewide). Thirty percent of SISD students reported getting
information about drugs and alcohol from a "health class," a rate lower than that reported by their
peers statewide (45 percent).

The influence of drug education programs may be reflected in students' attitudes toward the use of
specific substances. Ninety-one percent of Shamrock students believe that crack use is "very
dangerous" (91 percent statewide), and 91 percent believe that powdered cocaine use is "very
dangerous" (90 percent statewide). Eighty percent of SISD students believe that inhalant use is
"very dangerous" (77 percent statewide), and 75 percent believe that marijuana use is "very
dangerous" (66 percent statewide). By contrast, the perceived danger of alcohol and tobacco use
is lower. Only 46 percent of SISD students feel that it is "very dangerous" to use alcohol (45
percent statewide). Twenty-three percent of Shamrock ISD students believe that tobacco use is
"very dangerous," a rate lower than that reported by students statewide (38 percent) (Fig. 13).

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