TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE

GHOLSON ISD

SECONDARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

OVERVIEW

In the Spring of 1994, 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 Gholson Independent School District (GISD). A total of 37
students completed the questionnaire, which asked about students' experiences with alcohol and
drugs. Of that number, 3 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 34.1

Students' responses to the questionnaire indicate that:

•Sixty-four percent of Gholson ISD students reported using tobacco at least once during
their lifetimes, and 18 percent said they had used tobacco during the past month.

•None of the GISD students said they smoke cigarettes on a daily basis, and none
reported using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis.

•Eighty percent of Gholson ISD students said they had used alcohol at least once during
their lifetimes, and 25 percent reported using alcohol during the past month.

•Sixteen percent of GISD 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 4 percent.

•Seven percent of GISD students reported using marijuana at least once during their
lifetimes, but none said they had used marijuana during the past month.

•Gholson 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 (40 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.

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Tobacco

Over the last two years, the general use of tobacco (including cigarettes and smokeless
products) among students statewide has stayed much the same. Overall, the general use of
tobacco products among Gholson ISD 7th and 8th grade students is somewhat higher than that
reported by their counterparts statewide.

Sixty-four percent of Gholson students reported general tobacco use at least once during their
lifetimes, compared to 46 percent of 7th and 8th grade statewide. 2 Eighteen percent of Gholson
ISD students said they had used a tobacco product during the past month (20 percent statewide).

Fifty-nine percent of Gholson students reported smoking cigarettes at least once during their
lifetimes, a rate higher than that reported by 7th and 8th graders statewide (44 percent). Twenty
percent of GISD students said they had smoked cigarettes during the past month (18 percent
statewide). None of the district students reported smoking cigarettes on a daily basis (4 percent
statewide), while 15 percent said most or all of their close friends smoke cigarettes.3

Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 27 percent of GISD students (13
percent statewide), and 13 percent said they had used a smokeless tobacco product during the
past month (4 percent statewide), rates higher than those reported by their counterparts
statewide. None of the district students reported using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily
basis (1 percent statewide), and 15 percent said most or all of their close friends use smokeless
tobacco (5 percent statewide).

Alcohol

Alcohol is the most widely used substance among students statewide and in the Gholson ISD.
Alcohol use among secondary students statewide was similar to that reported two years ago.
Overall, Gholson ISD students are drinking alcohol at rates higher than those reported by their
peers statewide.

Eighty percent of Gholson students reported consuming alcohol at least once during their
lifetimes, compared to 63 percent of students statewide. Twenty-five percent of Gholson ISD
students said they had consumed alcohol during the past month (29 percent statewide).

The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by Gholson students are beer (68 percent/47
percent statewide) and wine coolers (68 percent/47 percent statewide), rates higher than those

2
Due to the small number of students surveyed in this district, no between-grade comparisons can be made.

3
Because a non-standard grade combination was surveyed in this district, some statewide data are
unavailable for comparisons throughout this summary.

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reported by 7th and 8th graders statewide. Thirty-four percent of GISD students said they drink
beer on a weekly or monthly basis (27 percent statewide), and 38 percent said they drink wine
coolers weekly or monthly (26 percent statewide), rates also higher than those reported by their
counterparts statewide.

"Binge drinking" is the consumption of five or more beers, wine coolers, servings of wine, or
drinks with liquor at one time. Past-year "binge drinking" of wine coolers was reported by 49
percent of GISD students, compared to 30 percent of students statewide. Fifteen percent of
district students said they usually drink five or more wine coolers at a time on average when
they drink (15 percent statewide). Forty-seven percent of Gholson ISD students reported "binge
drinking" beer at least once during the past year, a rate higher than that reported by 7th and 8th
grade students statewide (29 percent). Twenty-one 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 (14 percent).

Students were asked about the availability of alcohol, its use among friends, and its use at
parties. Fifty-one percent of Gholson ISD students said beer, wine, wine coolers, or liquor were
somewhat easy or very easy to obtain, a rate lower than that reported by 7th and 8th graders
statewide (64 percent). Sixteen percent of Gholson students reported attending at least one class
during the past school year while "drunk" (9 percent statewide), and 16 percent reported most
or all of their close friends drink alcohol (24 percent statewide). Thirty-nine percent of district
students 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 3
percent of GISD students (7 percent statewide).

Thirty percent of Gholson students said alcohol was used at most or all of the parties they
attended in the past school year, compared to 19 percent of 7th and 8th graders statewide.
Thirty-one percent of district students responded "at parties" when asked where they obtained
alcohol most of the time or always, while 16 percent of GISD 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. None of the GISD students who had not been absent since the
Fall reported having used alcohol during the past month. Forty-four percent of district students
who said they had missed four or more days of school reported having used alcohol during the
past month. Fifty-one 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. By
contrast, only 13 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, 57 percent of Gholson students
said their parents strongly or mildly disapprove, a rate lower than that reported by students
statewide (77 percent). Twenty-one percent of district students said they "don't know" how

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their parents feel about kids their age drinking beer (13 percent statewide), and 9 percent said
their parents neither approve nor disapprove (7 percent statewide).

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,
use of inhalants among students statewide decreased. Overall, Gholson ISD students are using
inhalants at rates somewhat similar to those reported by their counterparts statewide.

Thirteen percent of Gholson students reported using inhalants at least once during their
lifetimes, a rate somewhat lower than that reported by 7th and 8th graders statewide (22
percent). Four percent of Gholson ISD students said they had used inhalants during the past
month (7 percent statewide).

Five percent of GISD students reported most or all of their close friends use inhalants (4 percent
statewide), and none of the district students said they had attended at least one class during the
past school year while "high" on inhalants (6 percent statewide). Eleven percent of GISD
students said they had used two or more different kinds of inhalant substances during their
lifetimes (14 percent statewide).

Gholson students most frequently used inhalants in the "other inhalants" category (8 percent/10
percent statewide). Four percent of district students reported inhaling substances in the "other
sprays" category (5 percent statewide) and 4 percent reported inhaling gasoline (7 percent
statewide) at least once during their lifetimes. None of the GISD students said they had ever
inhaled liquid/spray paint (8 percent statewide) or paint thinner (7 percent statewide).

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 Gholson ISD, 10 percent of students reported use of illicit drugs at least once during their
lifetimes (19 percent statewide), while 4 percent of GISD students said they had used one or

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.

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more illicit substances three or more times (12 percent statewide), rates somewhat lower than
those reported by students statewide. Statewide, students who said they had used illicit drugs
reported using them an average of 0.9 times in the past 30 days and 2.2 times during their lives.
Gholson students reported average usage rates of 0.2 times in the past month and 0.3 times
during their lifetimes.

Seven percent of GISD students reported using marijuana at least once in their lifetimes, a rate
lower than that reported by 7th and 8th graders statewide (17 percent). None of the Gholson
ISD students reported past-month marijuana use, compared to 8 percent of students statewide.
Four percent of GISD students reported attending at least one class in the past year while
"stoned" on marijuana (7 percent statewide).

Thirty percent of GISD students said marijuana was somewhat or very easy to obtain, a rate
somewhat higher than that reported by 7th and 8th grade students (21 percent). Six percent of
district students reported most or all of their close friends use marijuana (12 percent statewide),
but none of the students said they had gotten into "difficulties of any kind" with their friends
because of their own drug use (5 percent statewide). None of the Gholson ISD 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 9 percent of students statewide.

When asked about parental attitudes toward marijuana use, Gholson students reported a
disapproval rate of 90 percent (84 percent statewide). Seven percent of district students said
they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age using marijuana (11 percent
statewide), while none said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (3 percent statewide).

The only other illicit substance Gholson ISD students reported using was downers (3 percent
statewide). None of the GISD students reported using uppers (4 percent statewide),
hallucinogens (3 percent statewide), powdered cocaine (3 percent statewide), crack (2 percent
statewide), steroids (2 percent statewide), or ecstasy (1 percent statewide) during their lifetimes.

CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH DRUG USE

Statewide, female students were less likely to have used drugs than were male students. In the
Gholson ISD, male students were the only reported users of downers in the district. There were
no other significant differences by gender among GISD students with regard to the use of
tobacco or alcohol products, inhalants, or marijuana.

Statewide, students making A and B grades reported lower drug use than did students making
C, D, and F grades. In the Gholson ISD, students reporting lower grades were nearly two times
more likely to have used an inhalant than were those students making A and B grades. On the
other hand, GISD students making A and B grades were the only reported users of marijuana or

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downers in the district. There were no other significant differences by grade average among
GISD students with regard to the use of tobacco or alcohol products.

In the statewide survey, students living in two-parent homes reported lower drug use than did
students living in other family situations. In the Gholson ISD, students living in other family
situations were somewhat more likely to have used a tobacco product than were those district
students living in two-parent homes. On the other hand, GISD students living in two-parent
homes were the only reported users of downers in the district. There were no other significant
differences by living arrangement among Gholson ISD students with regard to the use of
alcohol products, inhalants, or marijuana.

When asked where they would go for help with a drug or alcohol problem, the largest
percentage of Gholson students said they would seek help from their friends (68 percent/68
percent statewide) or their parents (68 percent/58 percent statewide). Sixty-five percent of
GISD students said they would seek help from an adult friend or relative, compared to 56
percent of students statewide. District students are least likely to seek help from another adult
in school, such as a teacher or nurse (40 percent/37 percent statewide). Since school began in
the Fall, 10 percent of Gholson students reported seeking help for any problems connected with
alcohol or drug use from someone other than family or friends (8 percent statewide).

Eighty-two percent of Gholson ISD students said they had gotten information about drugs and
alcohol from a school source since classes began in the Fall (81 percent statewide). Sixty-two
percent of GISD students reported getting information about drugs and alcohol from a "health
class," a rate higher than that reported by their counterparts statewide (47 percent). "An
assembly program" was reported by 30 percent of district students as a source for information
about drugs and alcohol (56 percent statewide), while 30 percent said "an invited school guest"
was a source for this information (49 percent statewide), rates lower than those reported by 7th
and 8th graders statewide.

The influence of drug education programs may be reflected in students' attitudes toward the use
of specific substances. Ninety-three percent of Gholson students believe that crack use is "very
dangerous" (89 percent statewide), and 93 percent believe that powdered cocaine use is "very
dangerous" (89 percent statewide). Eighty-nine percent of GISD students believe that
marijuana use is "very dangerous" (76 percent statewide), and 88 percent believe that inhalant
use is "very dangerous" (75 percent statewide), rates higher than those reported by their peers
statewide. By contrast, the perceived danger of alcohol and tobacco use is lower. Only 65
percent of GISD students feel that it is "very dangerous" to use alcohol, compared to 50 percent
of 7th and 8th graders statewide. Fifty-one percent of Gholson ISD students believe that
tobacco use is "very dangerous" (49 percent statewide).