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TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE

FRANKSTON 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 8, 10, and 12 in the Frankston Independent School District (FISD). A total of 149
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 130.1

Students' responses to the questionnaire indicate that:

• Seventy-four* percent of Frankston ISD students reported using tobacco at least


once during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 55* percent said they had used tobacco
during the past month (Fig. 2).2

• Twenty-seven* percent of Frankston ISD students said they smoke cigarettes on a


daily basis, while 9* percent reported using a smokeless tobacco product on a
daily basis.

• Eighty-eight* percent of Frankston ISD students said they had used alcohol at least
once during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 61* percent reported using alcohol during
the past month (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.

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• Thirty-five* percent of Frankston ISD 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"
(Fig. 11).

• Lifetime use of inhalants was reported by 26 percent of Frankston ISD students (Fig.
1), while past-month inhalant use was reported by 13* percent (Fig. 2).

• Forty-one percent of Frankston ISD students reported using marijuana at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 23 percent said they had used marijuana during
the past month (Fig. 2).

• Frankston ISD students are most likely to turn to friends for help with a drug or
alcohol problem (75 percent) and least likely to turn to a counselor or program in
school (18* percent) or another adult in school (19* percent) (Fig. 17).

Tobacco

Over the last two years, the general use of tobacco (including cigarettes and smokeless products)
among 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students statewide has increased slightly. Overall, the general
use of tobacco products among Frankston ISD students is considerably higher than that reported
by their counterparts statewide.

Seventy-four* percent of Frankston students reported general tobacco use at least once during
their lifetimes, compared to 58 percent of students statewide (Fig. 1). Fifty-five* percent of
Frankston ISD students said they had used a tobacco product during the past month, nearly twice
the rate reported by students statewide (28 percent) (Fig. 2).

Seventy-one* percent of Frankston students reported smoking cigarettes at least once during
their lifetimes (56 percent statewide), and 48* percent said they had smoked cigarettes during the
past month (26 percent statewide), rates considerably higher than those reported by their
counterparts statewide. Smoking cigarettes on a daily basis was reported by 27* percent of
district students, three times the rate reported by their peers statewide (9 percent). Forty-eight*
percent of FISD students said most or all of their close friends smoke cigarettes, compared to 22
percent of students statewide.

Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 42* percent of FISD students (18
percent statewide), while 22* percent said they had used a smokeless tobacco product during the
past month (6 percent statewide), rates higher than those reported by their peers statewide.
Using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis was reported by 9* percent of district
students (2 percent statewide), and 21* percent said most or all of their close friends use
smokeless tobacco (5 percent statewide), rates higher than those reported by their counterparts
statewide.

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Alcohol

Alcohol is the most widely used substance among students statewide and in the Frankston ISD.
Alcohol use among 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students statewide has decreased slightly from that
reported two years ago. Overall, Frankston ISD students are drinking alcohol at rates higher
than those reported by their peers statewide.

Eighty-eight* percent of Frankston students reported consuming alcohol at least once during
their lifetimes, compared to 76 percent of students statewide (Fig. 1). Sixty-one* percent of
Frankston ISD students said they had consumed alcohol during the past month, a rate higher than
that reported by their counterparts statewide (40 percent) (Fig. 2).

The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by Frankston students are beer (77* percent/59
percent statewide) and wine coolers (73 percent/62 percent statewide). Fifty-five* percent of
FISD students said they drink beer on a weekly or monthly basis (35 percent statewide), and 49*
percent said they drink wine coolers weekly or monthly (32 percent statewide), rates higher than
those reported by their peers statewide.

"Binge drinking" is the consumption of five or more beers, wine coolers, servings of wine, or
drinks with liquor at one time. FISD students are "binge drinking" beer and wine coolers at rates
higher than those reported by their counterparts statewide. Sixty-five* percent of Frankston ISD
students reported "binge drinking" beer at least once during their lifetimes (40 percent statewide),
while 43* percent said they usually drink five or more beers at a time on average when they drink
(21 percent statewide). Lifetime "binge drinking" of wine coolers was reported by 61* percent
of FISD students (41 percent statewide), and 23 percent said they usually drink five or more
wine coolers at a time on average when they drink (19 percent statewide).

Eighteen* percent of Frankston students reported attending at least one class during the past
school year while "drunk," compared to 10 percent of students statewide (Fig. 9). Thirty-five*
percent of FISD 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, nearly double the rate reported by 10th and
12th grade students statewide (18 percent). Driving while intoxicated four or more times during
the past year was reported by 15* percent of district 10th and 12th graders, three times the rate
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-six percent of Frankston ISD students said beer, wine, wine coolers, or liquor were
somewhat easy or very easy to obtain (79 percent statewide). Sixty-seven* percent of district
students reported most or all of their close friends drink alcohol (40 percent statewide), and 59*
percent responded "from friends" when asked where they obtained alcohol most of the time or
always (42 percent statewide), rates higher than those reported by students statewide.
"Difficulties of any kind" with friends because of one's own drinking was reported by 11 percent
of FISD students (10 percent statewide).

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Forty-nine percent of Frankston students said alcohol was used at most or all of the parties they
attended in the past school year (41 percent statewide) (Fig. 13). Forty-eight percent of district
students responded "at parties" when asked where they obtain alcohol most of the time or always
(46 percent statewide), while 24 percent of FISD students said they get alcohol "from the store"
most of the time or always (19 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 FISD students who had not been absent since the Fall
reported having used alcohol during the past month (35 percent/27 percent statewide) than did
district students who said they had missed four or more days of school (70* percent/47 percent
statewide). Ninety-two* percent of the Frankston students who had experienced difficulties with
school officials on four or more days reported using alcohol during the past 30 days, a rate higher
than that reported by their peers statewide (65 percent). By contrast, only 42 percent of district
students who had not experienced difficulties with school officials because of conduct problems
had used alcohol within the past 30 days (27 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, 68 percent of Frankston students
said their parents strongly or mildly disapprove (76 percent statewide). Ten percent of district
students said they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age drinking beer (8
percent statewide), and 16 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (11 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. Over the last two years,
use of inhalants among 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students statewide stayed about the same.
Overall, Frankston ISD students are using inhalants at rates somewhat similar to those reported
by their counterparts statewide.

Twenty-six percent of Frankston students reported using inhalants at least once during their
lifetimes, compared to 19 percent of students statewide (Fig. 1). Thirteen* percent of Frankston
ISD students said they had used inhalants during the past month, nearly three times the rate
reported by their peers statewide (5 percent) (Fig. 2).

Five percent of FISD students reported most or all of their close friends use inhalants (3 percent
statewide), and 5 percent said they had attended at least one class during the past school year
while "high" on inhalants (3 percent statewide). Nineteen percent of FISD students said they had
used two or more different kinds of inhalant substances during their lifetimes, a rate somewhat
higher than that reported by students statewide (11 percent).

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The inhalant substance most frequently used by Frankston students was correction fluid/Liquid
Paper (16 percent/9 percent statewide). Thirteen* percent of district students said they had
inhaled paint thinner (5 percent statewide), 13 percent said they had used substances in the "other
inhalants" category (8 percent statewide), 12 percent reported inhaling gasoline (5 percent
statewide), 10 percent said they had inhaled liquid/spray paint (7 percent statewide), 10* percent
reported inhaling substances in the "other sprays" category (3 percent statewide), and 7 percent
said they had inhaled glue (5 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 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students statewide has
increased. The use of marijuana, the most frequently used illicit substance, has also increased
among 8th, 10th, and 12th graders statewide over the last two years.

In the Frankston ISD, 43 percent of students reported use of illicit drugs at least once during
their lifetimes (36 percent statewide), while 36 percent of FISD students said they had used one
or more illicit substances three or more times (27 percent statewide), rates somewhat higher than
those reported by their counterparts statewide. Statewide, students who said they had used illicit
drugs reported using them an average of 2.4 times in the past 30 days and 7.0 times during their
lives. Frankston students reported average usage rates of 2.9 times in the past month and 9.0
times during their lifetimes.

Forty-one percent of FISD students reported using marijuana at least once in their lifetimes, a
rate somewhat higher than that reported by their counterparts statewide (33 percent) (Fig. 1).
Past-month marijuana use was reported by 23 percent of Frankston ISD students (17 percent
statewide) (Fig. 2).

Fifteen percent of FISD students reported attending at least one class in the past year while
"stoned" on marijuana (13 percent statewide) (Fig. 10). Driving under the influence of drugs at
least once during the past year was reported by 17 percent of Frankston ISD 10th and 12th grade
students (13 percent statewide).

Fifty-eight percent of FISD students said marijuana was somewhat or very easy to obtain (56
percent statewide), and 22 percent reported most or all of their close friends use marijuana (22
percent statewide). Eight percent of district students said they had gotten into "difficulties of any
kind" with their friends because of their own drug use (7 percent statewide). Seventeen percent
of the Frankston 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 somewhat lower than that reported by
students statewide (25 percent).

Fewer Frankston ISD students who had not been absent since the Fall reported having used
marijuana during the past month (6 percent/9 percent statewide) than did district students who

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said they had missed four or more days of school (27 percent/20 percent statewide). Twelve
percent of Frankston students who had not gotten into trouble with school officials reported
using marijuana within the past 30 days (7 percent statewide). By contrast, 45 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 (39 percent statewide).

When asked about parental attitudes toward marijuana use, Frankston students reported a
disapproval rate of 84 percent (87 percent statewide). Eight percent of district students said they
"don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age using marijuana (7 percent statewide),
while 4 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (4 percent statewide) (Fig. 15).

Other illicit substances are used by a small number of Frankston ISD students. Eleven percent of
FISD students reported using uppers (9 percent statewide), 11 percent said they had used
hallucinogens (8 percent statewide), 9 percent reported using powdered cocaine (7 percent
statewide), 7 percent said they had used crack (7 percent statewide), 5 percent reported using
downers (6 percent statewide), 4 percent said they had used ecstasy (6 percent statewide), and 1
percent reported using 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 Frankston ISD, male students were somewhat more likely to have used a
tobacco product or smoked marijuana, nearly twice as likely to have used an inhalant, over two
times as likely to have used powdered cocaine or hallucinogens, and over three times more likely
to have used downers than were district female students. In addition, FISD male students were
the only reported users of steroids in the district. On the other hand, Frankston ISD female
students were somewhat more likely to have used crack than were district male students. There
were no other significant differences by gender among FISD students with regard to the use of
alcohol, uppers, or ecstasy.

In the statewide survey, students living in two-parent homes reported lower drug use than did
students living in other family situations. FISD students living in other family situations were
somewhat more likely to have used an inhalant or crack, nearly twice as likely to have used
powdered cocaine, nearly three times more likely to have smoked marijuana or used uppers, and
over three times more likely to have used hallucinogens than were those district students living in
homes with two parents. On the other hand, FISD students were the only reported users of
steroids in the district. There were no other significant differences by living arrangement among
Frankston ISD students with regard to the use of tobacco products, alcohol, downers, or ecstasy.

When asked where they would go for help with a drug or alcohol problem, the largest percentage
of Frankston students said they would seek help from their friends (75 percent/76 percent
statewide). Forty-four* percent of FISD students said they would seek help from an adult friend
or relative (58 percent statewide), and 35* percent said they would turn to their parents (54
percent statewide), rates lower than those reported by their peers statewide. District students are

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least likely to seek help from a counselor or program in school (18* percent/33 percent
statewide), or another adult in school, such as a teacher or nurse (19* percent/31 percent
statewide), rates also lower than those reported by students statewide (Fig. 17). Since school
began in the Fall, 5 percent of Frankston students reported seeking help for any problems
connected with alcohol or drug use from someone other than family or friends (6 percent
statewide).

Sixty-eight percent of Frankston ISD students said they had gotten information about drugs and
alcohol from a school source since classes began in the Fall (73 percent statewide). "An
assembly program" was reported by 56 percent of district students as a source for information
about drugs and alcohol, compared to 44 percent of students statewide. Thirty-six percent of
Frankston students said "an invited school guest" was a source for information about drugs and
alcohol (38 percent statewide). Twenty-nine* percent of FISD students reported getting
information about drugs and alcohol from a "health class," a rate lower than that reported by
students statewide (43 percent).

The influence of drug education programs may be reflected in students' attitudes toward the use
of specific substances. Eighty-seven percent of Frankston students believe that crack use is "very
dangerous" (89 percent statewide), and 85 percent believe that powdered cocaine use is "very
dangerous" (87 percent statewide). Seventy-four percent of FISD students believe that inhalant
use is "very dangerous" (77 percent statewide), and 57 percent believe that marijuana use is "very
dangerous" (58 percent statewide). By contrast, the perceived danger of alcohol and tobacco use
is lower. Only 30 percent of FISD students feel that it is "very dangerous" to use alcohol (43
percent statewide), while 20* percent believe that tobacco use is "very dangerous" (36 percent
statewide), rates lower than those reported by their counterparts statewide (Fig. 13).

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