TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE

WASKOM ISD

SECONDARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

OVERVIEW

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 7 through 12 in the Waskom Independent School District (WISD). A total of
254 students completed the questionnaire, which asked about students' experiences with alcohol
and drugs. Of that number, 23 surveys were excluded from analysis because 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 231.1

Students' responses to the questionnaire indicate that:

•Sixty-seven* percent of Waskom ISD students reported using tobacco at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 36* percent said they had used tobacco
during the past month (Fig. 2).2

•Fifteen* percent of Waskom ISD students said they smoke cigarettes on a daily basis,
while 5* percent reported using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis.

•Seventy-three percent of Waskom 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).

•Eleven percent of Waskom ISD students reported attending at least one class during the
past year while "drunk," and 17 percent of district 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."

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.

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•Lifetime use of inhalants was reported by 24 percent of Waskom ISD students (Fig. 1),
while past-month inhalant use was reported by 5 percent (Fig. 2).

•Thirty percent of Waskom ISD students reported using marijuana at least once during
their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 14 percent said they had used marijuana during the
past month (Fig. 2).

•Waskom ISD students are most likely to turn to friends for help with a drug or alcohol
problem (68 percent) and least likely to consult another adult in school, such as a
teacher or nurse (33 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. 3 Overall, the general use of tobacco
products among Waskom ISD students is higher than that reported by their counterparts
statewide.

Sixty-seven* percent of Waskom students reported general tobacco use at least once during
their lifetimes, compared to 55 percent of students statewide (Fig. 1). 4 Thirty-six* percent of
Waskom ISD students said they had used a tobacco product during the past month, a rate higher
than that reported by students statewide (24 percent) (Fig. 2).

Sixty percent of Waskom students reported smoking cigarettes at least once during their
lifetimes (52 percent statewide), and 30 percent said they had smoked cigarettes during the past
month (22 percent statewide), rates higher than those reported by students statewide. Smoking
cigarettes on a daily basis was reported by 15* percent of district students (7 percent statewide),
while 30* percent said most or all of their close friends smoke cigarettes (19 percent statewide),
rates somewhat higher than those reported by their peers statewide.

Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 38* percent of WISD students, a
rate higher than that reported by students statewide (17 percent). Fifteen* percent of Waskom
students said they had used a smokeless tobacco product during the past month, compared to 6
percent of students statewide. Using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis was reported
by 5* percent of district students (2 percent statewide). Fourteen* percent of WISD students
said most or all of their close friends use smokeless tobacco, a rate somewhat higher than that
reported by students statewide (5 percent).

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 1994.

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

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Alcohol

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

Seventy-three percent of Waskom students reported consuming alcohol at least once during
their lifetimes (74 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Forty-six percent of Waskom ISD students said
they had consumed alcohol during the past month, a rate somewhat higher than that reported by
their counterparts statewide (39 percent) (Fig. 2).

The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by Waskom students are beer (63 percent/59
percent statewide) and wine coolers (62 percent/61 percent statewide). Forty-one percent of
WISD students said they drink beer on a weekly or monthly basis (37 percent statewide), and
37 percent said they drink wine coolers weekly or monthly (34 percent statewide).

"Binge drinking" is the consumption of five or more beers, wine coolers, servings of wine, or
drinks with liquor at one time. Forty-three percent of Waskom ISD students reported "binge
drinking" beer at least once during the past year (39 percent statewide). Twenty-nine* percent
of district students said they usually drink five or more beers at a time on average when they
drink, a rate somewhat higher than that reported by their peers statewide (20 percent). Past-year
"binge drinking" of wine coolers was reported by 42 percent of WISD students (41 percent
statewide), while 21 percent said they usually drink five or more wine coolers at a time on
average when they drink (19 percent statewide).

Eleven percent of Waskom students reported attending at least one class during the past school
year while "drunk" (10 percent statewide) (Fig. 9). Seventeen percent of WISD 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 6 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-nine percent of Waskom ISD students said beer, wine, wine coolers, or liquor
were somewhat easy or very easy to obtain (77 percent statewide). Forty-nine* percent of
district students reported most or all of their close friends drink alcohol, a rate somewhat higher
than that reported by students statewide (40 percent). Forty-one percent of WISD students
responded "from friends" when asked where they obtained alcohol most of the time or always
(40 percent statewide). "Difficulties of any kind" with friends because of one's own drinking
was reported by 13 percent of WISD students (10 percent statewide).

Thirty-one percent of Waskom students said alcohol was used at most or all of the parties they
attended in the past school year, compared to 39 percent of students statewide (Fig. 12). Thirty-
eight percent of district students responded "at parties" when asked where they obtain alcohol

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most of the time or always, a rate somewhat lower than that reported by students statewide (44
percent). Nineteen percent of WISD students said they get alcohol "from the store" most of the
time or always (21 percent statewide).

Students were asked how many days during the school year they were absent from class due to
an illness or for some other reason, and how many days they had gotten into trouble because of
conduct or attitude problems. Fewer WISD students who had not been absent since the Fall
reported having used alcohol during the past month (26 percent/26 percent statewide) than did
district students who said they had missed four or more days of school (51 percent/47 percent
statewide). Sixty-eight percent of the district students who had experienced difficulties with
school officials on four or more days reported using alcohol during the past 30 days (65 percent
statewide). By contrast, only 33* percent of district students who had not experienced
difficulties with school officials because of conduct problems had used alcohol within the past
30 days (26 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, 75 percent of Waskom students
said their parents strongly or mildly disapprove (75 percent statewide). Seven percent of district
students said they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age drinking beer (10
percent statewide), and 10 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (11 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. Between 1992 and
1994, use of inhalants among students statewide decreased. Overall, Waskom ISD students are
using inhalants at rates similar to those reported by their counterparts statewide.

Twenty-four percent of Waskom students reported using inhalants at least once during their
lifetimes (19 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Five percent of Waskom ISD students said they had
used inhalants during the past month (5 percent statewide) (Fig. 2).

Three percent of WISD students reported most or all of their close friends use inhalants (3
percent statewide), and 4 percent said they had attended at least one class during the past school
year while "high" on inhalants (3 percent statewide). Sixteen percent of WISD 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 Waskom students were correction fluid/Liquid
Paper (17* percent/10 percent statewide) and gasoline (13* percent/6 percent statewide), rates
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.

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somewhat higher than those reported by their peers statewide. Ten percent of district students
said they had inhaled liquid/spray paint (7 percent statewide), 9 percent reported inhaling
substances in the "other inhalants" category (8 percent statewide), 8 percent said they had
inhaled glue (6 percent statewide), 8 percent said they had inhaled paint thinner (6 percent
statewide), and 6 percent reported inhaling 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. 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 Waskom ISD, 36 percent of students reported use of illicit drugs at least once during their
lifetimes, a rate somewhat higher than that reported by their counterparts statewide (28 percent).
Twenty-four percent of WISD students said they had used one or more illicit substances three
or more times (19 percent statewide). Statewide, students who said they had used illicit drugs
reported using them an average of 1.4 times in the past 30 days and 4.2 times during their lives.
Waskom students reported average usage rates of 1.3 times in the past month and 4.2 times
during their lifetimes.

Thirty percent of WISD students reported using marijuana at least once in their lifetimes, a rate
somewhat similar to that reported by students statewide (25 percent) (Fig. 1). Past-month
marijuana use was reported by 14 percent of Waskom ISD students (12 percent statewide) (Fig.
2).

Twelve percent of WISD students reported attending at least one class in the past year while
"stoned" on marijuana (9 percent statewide) (Fig. 10). Driving under the influence of drugs at
least once during the past year was reported by 11 percent of Waskom ISD 9th through 12th
grade students (8 percent statewide).

Forty-nine percent of WISD students said marijuana was somewhat or very easy to obtain (48
percent statewide), and 18 percent reported most or all of their close friends use marijuana (17
percent statewide). Six 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). Sixteen percent of
the Waskom ISD students said that marijuana and/or other drugs were used at most or all of the
parties they attended during the school year (17 percent statewide).

When asked about parental attitudes toward marijuana use, Waskom students reported a
disapproval rate of 87 percent (87 percent statewide). Six percent of district students said they
"don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age using marijuana (8 percent statewide),

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while 3 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (4 percent statewide) (Fig.
15).

The most frequently used illicit substances among Waskom ISD students are uppers (14*
percent/7 percent statewide) and downers (12* percent/5 percent statewide), rates somewhat
higher than those reported by students statewide. Two percent of district students said they had
used powdered cocaine (5 percent statewide), 2 percent said they had used steroids (2 percent
statewide), 1 percent reported using crack (2 percent statewide), 1* percent said they had used
hallucinogens (6 percent statewide), and 1 percent reported using ecstasy (3 percent statewide)
at least once during their lifetimes (Fig. 1).

CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH DRUG USE

Statewide, female students were less likely to have used drugs than were male students. In the
Waskom ISD, male students were somewhat more likely to report marijuana or inhalant use
than were female students, and district males were also the only students to report crack use.
District females, on the other hand, were nearly twice as likely to report the use of uppers and
more than twice as likely to report the use of downers than were district male students. There
were no other significant differences by gender among WISD students with regard to the use of
tobacco products, alcohol, or other illicit substances.

In the statewide survey, students living in two-parent homes reported lower drug use than did
students living in other family situations. WISD students living in other family situations were
somewhat more likely to report the use of uppers or downers and nearly twice as likely to report
smoking marijuana than were those district students living in homes with two parents, and those
living in other family situations were also the only students to report ecstasy use. There were
no other significant differences by living arrangement among Waskom ISD students with
regard to the use of tobacco products, alcohol, inhalants, or other illegal drugs.

When asked where they would go for help with a drug or alcohol problem, the largest
percentage of Waskom students said they would seek help from their friends (68 percent/74
percent statewide). Fifty-four percent of WISD students said they would seek help from an
adult friend or relative (57 percent statewide). Forty-five percent of Waskom students said they
would turn to their parents for help with a drug or alcohol problem, a rate somewhat lower than
that reported by students statewide (54 percent). District students are least likely to seek help
from another adult in school, such as a teacher or nurse (33 percent/33 percent statewide) (Fig.
17). Since school began in the Fall, 4 percent of Waskom students reported seeking help for
any problems connected with alcohol or drug use from someone other than family or friends (7
percent statewide).

Seventy-one* percent of Waskom ISD students said they had gotten information about drugs
and alcohol from a school source since classes began in the Fall, compared to 79 percent of
students statewide. "A health class" was reported by 45 percent of district students as a source
for information about drugs and alcohol (46 percent statewide). Thirty* percent of WISD

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students said "an assembly program" was a source for information about drugs and alcohol (53
percent statewide), and 23* percent reported getting this information from "an invited school
guest" (46 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-one percent of Waskom students believe that powdered cocaine
use is "very dangerous" (90 percent statewide), and 90 percent believe that crack use is "very
dangerous" (91 percent statewide). Seventy-three percent of WISD students believe that
inhalant use is "very dangerous" (77 percent statewide), and 63 percent believe that marijuana
use is "very dangerous" (67 percent statewide). By contrast, the perceived danger of alcohol
and tobacco use is lower. Only 48 percent of WISD students feel that it is "very dangerous" to
use alcohol (46 percent statewide), while 39 percent believe that tobacco use is "very
dangerous" (41 percent statewide) (Fig. 13).