TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE

LAREDO 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 and 8 in the Laredo Independent School District (LISD). A total of 424 students
completed the questionnaire, which asked about students' experiences with alcohol and drugs.
Of that number, 19 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 405.1

Students' responses to the questionnaire indicate that:

•Thirty-seven* percent of Laredo ISD students reported using tobacco at least once
during their lifetimes, and 15* percent said they had used tobacco during the past
month.2

•One* percent of Laredo ISD students said they smoke cigarettes on a daily basis, while
none reported using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis.

•Fifty-six* percent of Laredo ISD students said they had used alcohol at least once during
their lifetimes, and 23* percent reported using alcohol during the past month.

•Six percent of Laredo ISD students reported attending at least one class during the past
year while "drunk."

•Lifetime use of inhalants was reported by 13* percent of district students, while
past-month inhalant use was reported by 6 percent.

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.

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
•Thirteen* percent of Laredo ISD students reported using marijuana at least once during
their lifetimes, and 6* percent said they had used marijuana during the past
month.

•Laredo ISD students are most likely to turn to friends for help with a drug or alcohol
problem (57* percent) and least likely to consult a medical doctor (45 percent).

Tobacco

Over the last two years, the general use of tobacco (including cigarettes and smokeless products)
among secondary students statewide has declined slightly.3 Overall, the general use of tobacco
products among Laredo ISD students, especially those in the 7th grade, is lower than that
reported by their counterparts statewide.

Thirty-seven* percent of Laredo students reported general tobacco use at least once during their
lifetimes, compared to 47 percent of 7th and 8th grade students statewide. Lifetime use of a
tobacco product was reported by 30* percent of LISD 7th graders, a rate lower than that
reported by 7th graders statewide (41 percent). Forty-five percent of district 8th graders
reported lifetime use of a tobacco product (52 percent statewide).

Fifteen* percent of Laredo ISD students said they had used a tobacco product during the past
month (20 percent statewide). Past-month use of a tobacco product was reported by 10*
percent of district 7th grade students, in contrast to the 17 percent reported by 7th grade students
statewide. Twenty-one percent of LISD 8th grade students reported past-month use of a
tobacco product (23 percent statewide).

Thirty-six* percent of Laredo students reported smoking cigarettes at least once during their
lifetimes (45 percent statewide), while 15* percent said they had smoked cigarettes during the
past month (19 percent statewide), and 1* percent reported smoking cigarettes on a daily basis (4
percent statewide), rates lower than those reported by their 7th and 8th grade peers statewide.
Ten percent of district students said most or all of their close friends smoke cigarettes.4

Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 8* percent of LISD students (12
percent statewide), while 1* percent said they had used a smokeless tobacco product during the
past month (4 percent statewide), and none reported using a smokeless tobacco product on a
daily basis (1 percent statewide), rates somewhat lower than those reported by 7th and 8th grade
students statewide. Three percent of district students said most or all of their close friends use
smokeless tobacco.

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
Because a non-standard grade combination was surveyed in this district, some statewide data are unavailable
for comparisons throughout this summary.

2
Alcohol

Alcohol is the most widely used substance among students statewide and in the Laredo ISD.
Over the last two years, alcohol use among secondary students statewide has decreased
somewhat. Overall, Laredo ISD students, especially those in the 7th grade, are drinking alcohol
at rates slightly lower than those reported by their peers statewide.

Fifty-six* percent of Laredo students reported consuming alcohol at least once during their
lifetimes (63 percent statewide). Lifetime use of alcohol was reported by 46* percent of district
7th graders, a rate lower than that reported by 7th graders statewide (56 percent). Sixty-six
percent of LISD 8th graders reported lifetime use of alcohol (68 percent statewide).

Twenty-three* percent of Laredo ISD students said they had consumed alcohol during the past
month, compared to 28 percent of 7th and 8th grade students statewide. Drinking alcohol during
the past month was reported by 20 percent of LISD 7th grade students (23 percent statewide)
and 26 percent of district 8th grade students (32 percent statewide).

The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by Laredo students are beer (38 percent/43
percent statewide) and wine coolers (43 percent/45 percent statewide). Twenty-five percent of
LISD students said they drink beer on a weekly or monthly basis (24 percent statewide), and 26
percent said they drink wine coolers weekly or monthly (24 percent statewide).

"Binge drinking" is the consumption of five or more beers, wine coolers, servings of wine, or
drinks with liquor at one time. Twenty-eight percent of Laredo ISD students reported "binge
drinking" beer at least once during their lifetimes (27 percent statewide), while 8 percent said
they usually drink five or more beers at a time on average when they drink (11 percent
statewide). Lifetime "binge drinking" of wine coolers was reported by 29 percent of LISD
students (30 percent statewide), while 12 percent said they usually drink five or more wine
coolers at a time on average when they drink (14 percent statewide).

Students were asked about the availability of alcohol, its use at school, its use among friends, and
its use at parties. Forty-eight* percent of Laredo ISD students said beer, wine, wine coolers, or
liquor were somewhat easy or very easy to obtain, a rate lower than that reported by their
counterparts statewide (62 percent). Six percent of Laredo students reported attending at least
one class during the past school year while "drunk" (8 percent statewide). Attending class while
intoxicated was reported by 5 percent of district 7th graders (7 percent statewide) and 7 percent
of LISD 8th graders (9 percent statewide).

Twenty-three percent of district students reported most or all of their close friends drink alcohol
(22 percent statewide), and 17 percent responded "from friends" when asked where they
obtained alcohol most of the time or always. "Difficulties of any kind" with friends because of
one's own drinking was reported by 4 percent of LISD students (5 percent statewide).

3
Fifteen percent of Laredo students said alcohol was used at most or all of the parties they
attended in the past school year (17 percent statewide). Alcohol use at most or all parties was
reported by 13 percent of LISD 7th graders (12 percent statewide) and 18 percent of district 8th
graders (22 percent statewide). Twenty-nine percent of Laredo students responded "at parties"
when asked where they obtain alcohol most of the time or always, while 8* percent of LISD
students said they get alcohol "from the store" most of the time or always.

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 LISD students who had not been absent since the Fall
reported having used alcohol during the past month (14 percent) than did district students who
said they had missed four or more days of school (29 percent). Fifty-four percent of the Laredo
students who had experienced difficulties with school officials on four or more days reported
using alcohol during the past 30 days. By contrast, only 15 percent of district students who had
not experienced difficulties with school officials because of conduct problems had used alcohol
within the past 30 days.

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, 72 percent of Laredo students
said their parents strongly or mildly disapprove (78 percent statewide). Twenty percent of
district students said they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age drinking beer
(13 percent statewide), and 6 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (6
percent statewide).

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 secondary students statewide stayed about the same. Overall, Laredo
ISD 7th and 8th graders are using inhalants at rates somewhat lower than those reported by their
counterparts statewide.

Thirteen* percent of Laredo students reported using inhalants at least once during their lifetimes,
nearly half that reported by 7th and 8th grade students statewide (23 percent). Lifetime use of
inhalants was reported by 13* percent of district 7th grade students (22 percent statewide) and
12* percent of LISD 8th grade students (24 percent statewide).

Six percent of Laredo ISD students said they had used inhalants during the past month (8 percent
statewide). Past-month use of inhalants was reported by 8 percent of LISD 7th graders (8
percent statewide) and 4 percent of district 8th graders (7 percent statewide).

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
Three percent of LISD students reported most or all of their close friends use inhalants (4
percent statewide), and 1* percent said they had attended at least one class during the past school
year while "high" on inhalants (5 percent statewide). Nine percent of LISD students said they
had used two or more different kinds of inhalant substances during their lifetimes (14 percent
statewide).

The inhalant substance most frequently used by Laredo students was correction fluid/Liquid
Paper (9 percent/12 percent statewide). Seven percent of district students said they had inhaled
glue (7 percent statewide), 6 percent said they had inhaled liquid/spray paint (8 percent
statewide), 6 percent reported inhaling substances in the "other sprays" category (5 percent
statewide), 5 percent reported inhaling substances in the "other inhalants" category (10 percent
statewide), 3 percent said they had inhaled paint thinner (6 percent statewide), and 2* percent
reported inhaling gasoline (6 percent statewide) at least once during their lifetimes.

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 secondary students statewide has increased. The use of
marijuana, the most frequently used illicit substance, has also increased among secondary
students statewide over the last two years.

In the Laredo ISD, 15* percent of students reported use of illicit drugs at least once during their
lifetimes (24 percent statewide), while 9* percent of LISD students said they had used one or
more illicit substances three or more times (16 percent statewide), rates lower than those
reported by 7th and 8th grade students statewide. Statewide, students who said they had used
illicit drugs reported using them an average of 1.5 times in the past 30 days and 3.5 times during
their lives. Laredo students reported average usage rates of 0.5 times in the past month and 1.9
times during their lifetimes.

Thirteen* percent of LISD students reported using marijuana at least once in their lifetimes, a
rate lower than that reported by their counterparts statewide (21 percent). Lifetime use of
marijuana was reported by 9* percent of Laredo 7th grade students (17 percent statewide) and
18 percent of district 8th grade students (26 percent statewide).

Past-month marijuana use was reported by 6* percent of Laredo ISD students, compared to 11
percent of 7th and 8th grade students statewide. Smoking marijuana during the past month was
reported by 5 percent of district 7th graders (9 percent statewide). Seven* percent of LISD 8th
graders reported smoking marijuana during the past month, half the rate reported by 8th graders
statewide (14 percent).

Two* percent of Laredo ISD students reported attending at least one class in the past year while
"stoned" on marijuana (10 percent statewide). Attending class while stoned was reported by 1*

5
percent of LISD 7th graders (7 percent statewide) and 2* percent of district 8th graders (11
percent statewide), rates lower than those reported by their 7th and 8th grade peers statewide.

Twenty-three* percent of LISD students said marijuana was somewhat or very easy to obtain (34
percent statewide), and 9* percent reported most or all of their close friends use marijuana (16
percent statewide), rates lower than those reported by 7th and 8th grade 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).

Seven* percent of the Laredo ISD students said that marijuana and/or other drugs were used at
most or all of the parties they attended during the school year (12 percent statewide). The use of
marijuana and/or other drugs at most or all parties was reported by 6 percent of district 7th grade
students (8 percent statewide). Eight* percent of LISD 8th grade students said that marijuana
and/or other drugs were used at most or all of the parties they attended during the school year,
near half the rate reported by 8th grade students statewide (15 percent).

Fewer Laredo ISD students who had not been absent since the Fall reported having used
marijuana during the past month (2 percent) than did district students who said they had missed
four or more days of school (10 percent). Two percent of Laredo students who had not gotten
into trouble with school officials reported using marijuana within the past 30 days. By contrast,
25 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.

When asked about parental attitudes toward marijuana use, Laredo students reported a
disapproval rate of 77* percent, compared to 83 percent of students statewide. Nineteen*
percent of district students said they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age
using marijuana (11 percent statewide), while 2 percent said their parents neither approve nor
disapprove (3 percent statewide).

Other illicit substances are used by a small number of Laredo ISD students. Four percent of
LISD students said they had used powdered cocaine (4 percent statewide), 3 percent reported
using downers (3 percent statewide), 2* percent reported using uppers (4 percent statewide), 2*
percent said they had used hallucinogens (4 percent statewide), 2 percent reported using crack (2
percent statewide), 2 percent reported using ecstasy (3 percent statewide), and 1 percent said
they had used steroids (2 percent statewide) at least once during their lifetimes.

CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH DRUG USE

Statewide, female students were somewhat less likely to have used drugs than were male
students. In the Laredo ISD, male students were nearly two times more likely to have smoked
marijuana than were district female students. On the other hand, LISD female students were
somewhat more likely to have used downers than were their male counterparts in the district, In
addition, Laredo female students were the only reported users of steroids in the district. There

6
were no other significant differences by gender among LISD 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. LISD students living in other family situations were
nearly two times more likely to have used inhalants than were those district students living in
homes with two parents. On the other hand, Laredo ISD students living in two-parent homes
were somewhat more likely to have used downers than were those district students living in other
family situations. In addition, LISD students living in two-parent homes were the only reported
users of hallucinogens or ecstasy in the district. There were no other significant differences by
living arrangement among Laredo ISD students with regard to the use of tobacco products,
alcohol, marijuana, or other illegal drugs.

When asked where they would go for help with a drug or alcohol problem, the largest percentage
of Laredo students said they would seek help from their friends (57* percent/69 percent
statewide). Seventy* percent of district students said they would turn to their parents for help
with a drug or alcohol problem, a rate higher than that reported by their peers statewide (59
percent). Sixty-two percent of LISD students 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 (45 percent/42 percent statewide). Since school began in the Fall, 9 percent of Laredo
students reported seeking help for any problems connected with alcohol or drug use from
someone other than family or friends (8 percent statewide).

Eighty percent of Laredo ISD students said they had gotten information about drugs and alcohol
from a school source since classes began in the Fall (79 percent statewide). Seventy-three*
percent of district students said "an invited school guest" was a source for information about
drugs and alcohol (46 percent statewide), while 64* percent said "an assembly program" was a
source for this information (51 percent statewide), rates higher than those reported by 7th and
8th grade students statewide. Forty-five percent of LISD students reported getting information
about drugs and alcohol from a "health class" (45 percent statewide).

The influence of drug education programs may be reflected in students' attitudes toward the use
of specific substances. Eighty-eight percent of Laredo students believe that crack use is "very
dangerous" (86 percent statewide), and 89 percent believe that powdered cocaine use is "very
dangerous" (86 percent statewide). Eighty-three* percent of LISD students believe that inhalant
use is "very dangerous" (74 percent statewide), and 82* percent believe that marijuana use is
"very dangerous" (70 percent statewide), rates higher than those reported by their counterparts
statewide. By contrast, the perceived danger of alcohol and tobacco use is lower. Sixty* percent
of Laredo ISD students believe that tobacco use is "very dangerous," a rate higher than that
reported by 7th and 8th grade students statewide (48 percent). Only 50 percent of LISD
students feel that it is "very dangerous" to use alcohol (48 percent statewide).