TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE

PALESTINE 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 Palestine Independent School District (PISD). A total of 1028
students completed the questionnaire, which asked about students' experiences with alcohol and
drugs. Of that number, 50 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 978.1

Students' responses to the questionnaire indicate that:

•Sixty percent of Palestine ISD students reported using tobacco at least once during their
lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 32* percent said they had used tobacco during the past
month (Fig. 2).2

•Ten percent of Palestine ISD students said they smoke cigarettes on a daily basis, while
3* percent reported using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis.

•Seventy-four percent of Palestine ISD students said they had used alcohol at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 37 percent reported using alcohol during the
past month (Fig. 2).

•Sixteen percent of Palestine 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).

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 17 percent of Palestine ISD students (Fig. 1),
while past-month inhalant use was reported by 4 percent (Fig. 2).

•Twenty-six* percent of Palestine ISD students reported using marijuana at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 13 percent said they had used marijuana during
the past month (Fig. 2).

•Palestine ISD students are most likely to turn to friends for help with a drug or alcohol
problem (76 percent) and least likely to consult a counselor or program in school
(27* 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 Palestine ISD students, especially those in the 10th grade, is somewhat higher than that
reported by students statewide.

Sixty percent of Palestine students reported general tobacco use at least once during their
lifetimes (55 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Lifetime general tobacco use was lowest among district
7th graders (47 percent/41 percent statewide) and highest among PISD 10th graders (69
percent/60 percent statewide) and Palestine 12th graders (69 percent/63 percent statewide), rates
somewhat higher than those reported by students statewide.

Thirty-two* percent of Palestine ISD students said they had used a tobacco product during the
past month, compared to 26 percent of students statewide (Fig. 2). Past-month general tobacco
use was lowest among PISD 7th grade students (18 percent/17 percent statewide). Forty-two*
percent of district 10th graders reported past-month use of a tobacco product, a rate higher than
that reported by 10th graders statewide (30 percent).

Fifty-eight* percent of Palestine students reported smoking cigarettes at least once during their
lifetimes (53 percent statewide), and 30* percent said they had smoked cigarettes during the past
month (25 percent statewide), rates somewhat higher than those reported by students statewide.
Smoking cigarettes on a daily basis was reported by 10 percent of district students (8 percent
statewide). Daily cigarette use was highest among Palestine ISD 10th graders (20* percent),
nearly double the rate reported by 10th graders statewide (11 percent). Twenty-eight* percent of
PISD students said most or all of their close friends smoke cigarettes, compared to 21 percent of
students statewide.

Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 22* percent of PISD students (16
percent statewide), while 10* percent said they had used a smokeless tobacco product during the
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.

2
past month (5 percent statewide), rates somewhat higher than those reported by their peers
statewide. Using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis was reported by 3* percent of
district students (1 percent statewide). Twelve* percent of PISD students said most or all of
their close friends use smokeless tobacco, more than twice the rate reported by students
statewide (5 percent).

Alcohol

Alcohol is the most widely used substance among students statewide and in the Palestine ISD.
Alcohol use among secondary students statewide has decreased slightly from that reported two
years ago. Overall, Palestine ISD students, with the notable exception of those in the 10th grade,
are drinking alcohol at rates similar to those reported by their peers statewide.

Seventy-four percent of Palestine students reported consuming alcohol at least once during their
lifetimes (74 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Lifetime alcohol use was lowest among PISD 7th
graders (60 percent/56 percent statewide) and highest among district 12th graders (86 percent/85
percent statewide) (Fig. 3).

Thirty-seven percent of Palestine ISD students said they had consumed alcohol during the past
month (38 percent statewide) (Fig. 2). Past-month alcohol use was lowest among PISD 7th
graders (25 percent/23 percent statewide). Fifty percent of district 10th grade students reported
consuming alcohol during the past month, a rate somewhat higher than that reported by 10th
grade students statewide (42 percent) (Fig. 4).

The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by Palestine students are wine coolers (61
percent/58 percent statewide) and beer (58 percent/56 percent statewide). Thirty-four percent of
PISD students said they drink beer on a weekly or monthly basis (33 percent statewide), and 34
percent said they drink wine coolers weekly or monthly (31 percent statewide).

"Binge drinking" is the consumption of five or more beers, wine coolers, servings of wine, or
drinks with liquor at one time. Lifetime "binge drinking" of wine coolers was reported by 40
percent of PISD students (40 percent statewide), while 19 percent said they usually drink five or
more wine coolers at a time on average when they drink (18 percent statewide). Thirty-seven
percent of Palestine ISD students reported "binge drinking" beer at least once during their
lifetimes (37 percent statewide), while 19 percent said they usually drink five or more beers at a
time on average when they drink (19 percent statewide).

Nine percent of Palestine students reported attending at least one class during the past school
year while "drunk" (9 percent statewide) (Figs. 9a and 9b). Sixteen percent of PISD 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 was reported by 23*
percent of Palestine 10th graders, nearly double the rate reported by 10th graders statewide (12
percent). Driving while intoxicated four or more times during the past year was reported by 4
percent of district 9th through 12th graders (4 percent statewide) (Fig. 11).

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Students were asked about the availability of alcohol, its use among friends, and its use at parties.
Eighty-one* percent of Palestine ISD students said beer, wine, wine coolers, or liquor were
somewhat easy or very easy to obtain (75 percent statewide), and 42* percent reported most or
all of their close friends drink alcohol (37 percent statewide), rates somewhat higher than those
reported by students statewide. Thirty-nine percent of district students 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 9 percent of
PISD students (9 percent statewide).

Forty-one percent of Palestine students said alcohol was used at most or all of the parties they
attended in the past school year (37 percent statewide). Alcohol use at most or all parties was
reported by 60 percent of PISD 10th graders, a rate higher than that reported by 10th graders
statewide (48 percent) (Figs. 13a and 13b). Forty-four percent of district students responded "at
parties" when asked where they obtain alcohol most of the time or always (43 percent statewide),
while 16 percent of PISD students said they get alcohol "from the store" most of the time or
always (17 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 PISD students who had not been absent since the Fall
reported having used alcohol during the past month (30 percent/25 percent statewide) than did
district students who said they had missed four or more days of school (41 percent/44 percent
statewide). Sixty-six percent of Palestine ISD students who had experienced difficulties with
school officials on four or more days reported using alcohol during the past 30 days (62 percent
statewide). By contrast, only 25 percent of district students who had not experienced difficulties
with school officials because of conduct problems had used alcohol within the past 30 days (25
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, 76 percent of Palestine 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 10 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (10 percent
statewide) (Fig. 15).

Inhalants4

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,

4
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
use of inhalants among students statewide has stayed about the same. Overall, Palestine ISD
students are using inhalants at rates somewhat similar to those reported by their counterparts
statewide.

Seventeen percent of Palestine students reported using inhalants at least once during their
lifetimes (20 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Lifetime inhalant use was reported by 14* percent of
district 9th grade students, a rate lower than that reported by 9th grade students statewide (21
percent). Twenty-two percent of PISD 7th graders reported lifetime inhalant use (22 percent
statewide) (Figs. 5a and 5b).

Four percent of Palestine ISD students said they had used inhalants during the past month (5
percent statewide) (Fig. 2). None of the district 12th graders reported past-month inhalant use
(2 percent statewide) (Figs. 6a and 6b). Two percent of PISD 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 (4 percent statewide). Ten
percent of PISD students said they had used two or more different kinds of inhalant substances
during their lifetimes (12 percent statewide).

The inhalant substance most frequently used by Palestine students was correction fluid/Liquid
Paper (10 percent/9 percent statewide). Seven percent of district students reported inhaling
substances in the "other inhalants" category (8 percent statewide), 6 percent reported inhaling
gasoline (5 percent statewide), 5 percent said they had inhaled glue (5 percent statewide), 5
percent said they had inhaled liquid/spray paint (7 percent statewide), and 4 percent said they had
inhaled paint thinner (5 percent statewide) at least once during their lifetimes (Figs. 7a and 7b).

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 Palestine ISD, 29* percent of students reported use of illicit drugs at least once during
their lifetimes (34 percent statewide), while 21* percent of PISD students said they had used one
or more illicit substances three or more times (25 percent statewide), rates somewhat lower than
those reported by their counterparts 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. Palestine students reported average usage rates of 1.9 times in the past month and 5.0
times during their lifetimes.

Twenty-six* percent of PISD students reported using marijuana at least once in their lifetimes, a
rate somewhat lower than that reported by students statewide (31 percent) (Fig. 1). Lifetime
marijuana use was reported by 15* percent of Palestine 8th graders (26 percent statewide) and

5
22* percent of PISD 9th graders (35 percent statewide), rates lower than those reported by 8th
and 9th graders statewide. Forty-two percent of district 10th graders reported lifetime marijuana
use (36 percent statewide) (Figs. 5a and 5b).

Past-month marijuana use was reported by 13 percent of Palestine ISD students (16 percent
statewide) (Fig. 2). The rates of past-month marijuana use ranged from 5 percent among district
7th graders (9 percent statewide) to 20 percent among PISD 10th graders (18 percent statewide)
(Figs. 6a and 6b).

Eleven percent of PISD students reported attending at least one class in the past year while
"stoned" on marijuana (13 percent statewide). Attending class while stoned was reported by 17
percent of Palestine 10th graders (14 percent statewide) and 17 percent of district 11th graders
(14 percent statewide) (Figs. 10a and 10b). Driving under the influence of drugs at least once
during the past year was reported by 14 percent of Palestine ISD 9th through 12th grade students
(12 percent statewide). Driving under the influence of drugs was highest among PISD 10th
graders (24* percent), more than double the rate reported by 10th graders statewide (10
percent).

Fifty-nine* percent of PISD students said marijuana was somewhat or very easy to obtain, a rate
somewhat higher than that reported by students statewide (53 percent). Nineteen percent of
district students reported most or all of their close friends use marijuana (21 percent statewide),
and 6 percent said they had gotten into "difficulties of any kind" with their friends because of
their own drug use (6 percent statewide).

Twenty-two percent of the Palestine ISD students said that marijuana and/or other drugs were
used at most or all of the parties they attended during the school year (23 percent statewide).
The use of marijuana and/or other drugs at most or all parties was reported by 7* percent of
district 8th graders, less than half the rate reported by 8th graders statewide (15 percent). Forty-
three percent of PISD 12th grade students said that marijuana and/or other drugs were used at
most or all of the parties they attended during the school year, compared to 33 percent of 12th
grade students statewide.

Fewer Palestine ISD students who had not been absent since the Fall reported having used
marijuana during the past month (12 percent/9 percent statewide) than did district students who
said they had missed four or more days of school (14 percent/20 percent statewide). Five
percent of PISD students who had not gotten into trouble with school officials reported using
marijuana within the past 30 days (7 percent statewide). By contrast, 34 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 (38 percent statewide).

When asked about parental attitudes toward marijuana use, Palestine students reported a
disapproval rate of 87 percent (85 percent statewide). Eight percent of district students said they
"don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age using marijuana (8 percent statewide),
while 3 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (4 percent statewide) (Fig. 15).

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Other illicit substances are used by a small number of Palestine ISD students. Eight percent of
PISD students reported using uppers (8 percent statewide), 5 percent reported using downers (6
percent statewide), 4* percent said they had used hallucinogens (8 percent statewide), 3* percent
said they had used powdered cocaine (7 percent statewide), 3* percent reported using ecstasy (5
percent statewide) 2 percent reported using crack (3 percent statewide), and 2 percent said they
had used steroids (2 percent statewide) at least once during their lifetimes (Fig. 1).

CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH DRUG USE

Statewide, female students were somewhat less likely to have used drugs than were male
students. In the Palestine ISD, male students were somewhat more likely to have smoked
marijuana, used powdered cocaine, or used steroids than were district female students. There
were no other significant differences by gender among PISD students with regard to the use of
tobacco products, alcohol, inhalants, 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. PISD students living in other family situations were
somewhat more likely to have smoked marijuana or used uppers and over two times more likely
to have used hallucinogens or downers than were those district students living in homes with two
parents. There were no other significant differences by living arrangement among Palestine 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 Palestine students said they would seek help from their friends (76 percent/74 percent
statewide). Fifty-eight percent of PISD students said they would seek help from an adult friend
or relative (58 percent statewide), and 54 percent said they would turn to their parents (54
percent statewide). District students are least likely to seek help for a drug or alcohol problem
from a counselor or program in school (27* percent), a rate lower than that reported by students
statewide (35 percent) (Fig. 17). Since school began in the Fall, 7 percent of Palestine students
reported seeking help for any problems connected with alcohol or drug use from someone other
than family or friends (7 percent statewide).

Eighty* percent of Palestine ISD students said they had gotten information about drugs and
alcohol from a school source since classes began in the Fall, compared to 75 percent of students
statewide. "An assembly program" was reported by 60* percent of district students as a source
for information about drugs and alcohol (44 percent statewide), while 49* percent said "an
invited school guest" was a source for this information (38 percent statewide), rates higher than
those reported by students statewide. Fifty percent of PISD students reported getting
information about drugs and alcohol from a "health class" (46 percent statewide).

The influence of drug education programs may be reflected in students' attitudes toward the use
of specific substances. Ninety-one percent of Palestine students believe that crack use is "very
dangerous" (88 percent statewide), and 91* percent believe that powdered cocaine use is "very
dangerous" (87 percent statewide). Seventy-four percent of PISD students believe that inhalant

7
use is "very dangerous" (76 percent statewide), and 66* percent believe that marijuana use is
"very dangerous" (60 percent statewide). By contrast, the perceived danger of alcohol and
tobacco use is lower. Only 40 percent of PISD students feel that it is "very dangerous" to use
alcohol (44 percent statewide), while 33* percent believe that tobacco use is "very dangerous"
(39 percent statewide) (Fig. 13).