TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE

MORTON 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 Morton Independent School District (MISD). A total of 227
students completed the questionnaire, which asked about students' experiences with alcohol and
drugs. Of that number, 17 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 210.1

Students' responses to the questionnaire indicate that:

•Sixty-seven* percent of Morton ISD students reported using tobacco at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 33 percent said they had used tobacco during
the past month (Fig. 2).2

•Eight percent of Morton ISD students said they smoke cigarettes on a daily basis, while
1 percent reported using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis.

•Seventy-nine percent of Morton ISD students said they had used alcohol at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 32 percent reported using alcohol during the
past month (Fig. 2).

•Twenty-two percent of Morton 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.

1
•Lifetime use of inhalants was reported by 17 percent of Morton ISD students (Fig. 1),
while past-month inhalant use was reported by 5 percent (Fig. 2).

•Twenty-nine percent of Morton ISD students reported using marijuana at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 17 percent said they had used marijuana during
the past month (Fig. 2).

•Morton ISD students are most likely to turn to friends for help with a drug or alcohol
problem (69 percent) and least likely to consult a medical doctor (32 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 Morton ISD students is somewhat higher than that reported by their counterparts
statewide.

Sixty-seven* percent of Morton students reported general tobacco use at least once during their
lifetimes, compared to 55 percent of students statewide (Fig. 1). 4 Thirty-three percent of Morton
ISD students said they had used a tobacco product during the past month (26 percent statewide)
(Fig. 2).

Sixty-four* percent of Morton students reported smoking cigarettes at least once during their
lifetimes, a rate higher than that reported by students statewide (53 percent). Thirty percent of
MISD students said they had smoked cigarettes during the past month (25 percent statewide),
and 8 percent reported smoking cigarettes on a daily basis (8 percent statewide). Twenty-nine
percent of district students said most or all of their close friends smoke cigarettes (21 percent
statewide).

Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 24* percent of MISD students, in
contrast to the 16 percent reported by their peers statewide. Eight percent of Morton students
said they had used a smokeless tobacco product during the past month (5 percent statewide), and
1 percent reported using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis (1 percent statewide).
Three percent of district students said most or all of their close friends use smokeless tobacco (5
percent statewide).

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

2
Alcohol is the most widely used substance among students statewide and in the Morton ISD.
Alcohol use among secondary students statewide has decreased slightly from that reported two
years ago. Overall, Morton ISD students are drinking alcohol at rates somewhat higher than
those reported by their peers statewide.

Seventy-nine percent of Morton students reported consuming alcohol at least once during their
lifetimes (74 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Thirty-two percent of Morton ISD students said they
had consumed alcohol during the past month (38 percent statewide) (Fig. 2).

The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by Morton students are beer (65 percent/56
percent statewide) and wine coolers (53 percent/58 percent statewide). Forty percent of MISD
students said they drink beer on a weekly or monthly basis, a rate somewhat higher than that
reported by students statewide (33 percent). Twenty-two percent of district students said they
drink wine coolers weekly or monthly, a rate somewhat lower than that reported by students
statewide (31 percent).

"Binge drinking" is the consumption of five or more beers, wine coolers, servings of wine, or
drinks with liquor at one time. Forty-five percent of Morton ISD students reported "binge
drinking" beer at least once during their lifetimes (37 percent statewide), while 31* percent said
they usually drink five or more beers at a time on average when they drink (19 percent
statewide), rates higher than those reported by their peers statewide. Lifetime "binge drinking"
of wine coolers was reported by 42 percent of MISD students (40 percent statewide), while 18
percent said they usually drink five or more wine coolers at a time on average when they drink
(18 percent statewide).

Eighteen percent of Morton students reported attending at least one class during the past school
year while "drunk," in contrast to the 9 percent reported by students statewide (Fig. 9). Twenty-
two percent of MISD 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, a rate somewhat higher than that reported
by 9th through 12th grade students statewide (15 percent). Driving while intoxicated four or
more times during the past year was reported by 9 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-six percent of Morton ISD students said beer, wine, wine coolers, or liquor were
somewhat easy or very easy to obtain (75 percent statewide). Forty-two percent of district
students reported most or all of their close friends drink alcohol (37 percent statewide), and 43
percent 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 8 percent of MISD students (9 percent statewide).

Forty-six percent of Morton students said alcohol was used at most or all of the parties they
attended in the past school year, compared to 37 percent of their counterparts statewide (Fig.
13). Forty-six percent of district students responded "at parties" when asked where they obtain

3
alcohol most of the time or always (43 percent statewide). Six* percent of MISD students said
they get alcohol "from the store" most of the time or always, nearly a third of the rate reported by
students statewide (17 percent).

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 Morton students
said their parents strongly or mildly disapprove (76 percent statewide). Sixteen* percent of
district students said they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age drinking beer,
nearly double the rate reported by students statewide (9 percent). Eight percent of MISD
students said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (10 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. Over the last two years,
use of inhalants among students statewide has stayed about the same. Overall, Morton ISD
students are using inhalants at rates similar to those reported by their counterparts statewide.

Seventeen percent of Morton students reported using inhalants at least once during their lifetimes
(20 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Five percent of Morton ISD students said they had used
inhalants during the past month (5 percent statewide) (Fig. 2).

Five percent of MISD students reported most or all of their close friends use inhalants (3 percent
statewide), and 6 percent said they had attended at least one class during the past school year
while "high" on inhalants (4 percent statewide). Nine percent of MISD 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 Morton students were gasoline (8 percent/5
percent statewide), correction fluid/Liquid Paper (7 percent/9 percent statewide), and paint
thinner (7 percent/5 percent statewide). Six percent of district students reported inhaling
substances in the "other inhalants" category (8 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 3 percent reported inhaling substances in the "other sprays" category (4 percent
statewide) at least once during their lifetimes (Fig. 7).

Illicit Drugs

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
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 Morton ISD, 31 percent of students reported use of illicit drugs at least once during their
lifetimes (34 percent statewide), while 22 percent of MISD students said they had used one or
more illicit substances three or more times (25 percent statewide), rates similar to those reported
by students 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. Morton
students reported average usage rates of 2.5 times in the past month and 4.6 times during their
lifetimes.

Twenty-nine percent of MISD students reported using marijuana at least once in their lifetimes, a
rate similar to that reported by their counterparts statewide (31 percent) (Fig. 1). Past-month
marijuana use was reported by 17 percent of Morton ISD students (16 percent statewide) (Fig.
2).

Fifteen percent of MISD 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 10 percent of Morton ISD 9th through 12th
grade students (12 percent statewide).

Fifty-six percent of MISD students said marijuana was somewhat or very easy to obtain (53
percent statewide), and 17 percent reported most or all of their close friends use marijuana (21
percent statewide). Seven percent of district students said they had gotten into "difficulties of
any kind" with their friends because of their own drug use (6 percent statewide). Twenty-five
percent of the Morton 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).

When asked about parental attitudes toward marijuana use, Morton students reported a
disapproval rate of 76* percent, a rate lower than that reported by students statewide (85
percent). Sixteen* percent of district students said they "don't know" how their parents feel
about kids their age using marijuana, double the rate reported by their peers statewide (8
percent). Five percent of MISD students said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (4
percent statewide) (Fig. 15).

Other illicit substances are used by a smaller number of Morton ISD students. Powdered cocaine
is the next most frequently used illegal drug among district students (12 percent/7 percent
statewide). Seven percent of MISD students reported using uppers (8 percent statewide), 5
percent reported using downers (6 percent statewide), 4 percent reported using crack (3 percent
statewide), 3* percent said they had used hallucinogens (8 percent statewide), 2 percent said they
had used steroids (2 percent statewide), and 2* percent reported using ecstasy (5 percent
statewide) at least once during their lifetimes (Fig. 1).

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CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH DRUG USE

Statewide, female students were somewhat less likely to have used drugs than were male
students. In the Morton ISD, male students were nearly twice as likely to have used marijuana,
powdered cocaine, or uppers, over two times more likely to have used inhalants, and over three
times more likely to have used crack than were district female students. In addition, MISD male
students were the only reported users of hallucinogens in the district. There were no other
significant differences by gender among MISD students with regard to the use of tobacco
products, alcohol, steroids, or ecstasy.

When asked where they would go for help with a drug or alcohol problem, the largest percentage
of Morton students said they would seek help from their friends (69 percent/74 percent
statewide). Fifty-eight percent of MISD students said they would seek help from an adult friend
or relative (58 percent statewide), and 49 percent said they would turn to their parents (54
percent statewide). District students are least likely to seek help from a medical doctor (32
percent/38 percent statewide) (Fig. 17). Since school began in the Fall, 12 percent of Morton
students reported seeking help for any problems connected with alcohol or drug use from
someone other than family or friends (7 percent statewide).

Eighty-nine* percent of Morton 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 73* percent of district students as a source
for information about drugs and alcohol (44 percent statewide), while 65* percent said "an
invited school guest" was a source for this information (38 percent statewide), rates higher than
those reported by their counterparts statewide. Forty-seven percent of MISD 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. Eighty-two percent of Morton students believe that crack use is "very
dangerous" (88 percent statewide), and 81 percent believe that powdered cocaine use is "very
dangerous" (87 percent statewide). Seventy-nine percent of MISD students believe that inhalant
use is "very dangerous" (70 percent statewide), and 67 percent believe that marijuana use is "very
dangerous" (60 percent statewide), rates somewhat higher than those reported by students
statewide. By contrast, the perceived danger of alcohol and tobacco use is lower. Only 49
percent of MISD students feel that it is "very dangerous" to use alcohol (44 percent statewide),
while 39 percent believe that tobacco use is "very dangerous" (39 percent statewide) (Fig. 13).