TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE

LAREDO 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 through 12 in the Laredo Independent School District (LISD). A total of
2647 students completed the questionnaire, which asked about students' experiences with
alcohol and drugs. Of that number, 95 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 2552.1

Students' responses to the questionnaire indicate that:

•Fifty-six percent of Laredo ISD students reported using tobacco at least once during
their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 25 percent said they had used tobacco during the past
month (Fig. 2).

•Four* percent of LISD students said they smoke cigarettes on a daily basis, while 1*
percent reported using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis.2

•Seventy-four percent of Laredo ISD students said they had used alcohol at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 40 percent reported using alcohol during the
past month (Fig. 2).

•Eight* percent of LISD students reported attending at least one class during the past
year while "drunk," and 13 percent of district 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."

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 13* percent of district students (Fig. 1),
while past-month inhalant use was reported by 4 percent (Fig. 2).

•Sixteen* percent of LISD students reported using marijuana at least once during their
lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 7* percent said they had used marijuana during the past
month (Fig. 2).

•Laredo ISD students are most likely to turn to friends for help with a drug or alcohol
problem (66* percent) and least likely to consult another adult in school, such as
a nurse or teacher (43* percent) or a medical doctor (43* percent) (Fig. 17).

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 Laredo ISD students is similar to that reported by their counterparts
statewide.

Fifty-six percent of Laredo students reported general tobacco use at least once during their
lifetimes (55 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Lifetime general tobacco use was lowest among LISD
7th graders (44 percent/40 percent statewide). Sixty-one percent of district 9th graders said they
had used a tobacco product at least once during their lifetimes (57 percent statewide).

Twenty-five percent of Laredo ISD students said they had used a tobacco product during the
past month (24 percent statewide) (Fig. 2). Past-month general tobacco use was lowest among
district 7th graders (19 percent/16 percent statewide). Twenty* percent of Laredo 11th grade
students reported using a tobacco product during the past month, a rate somewhat lower than
that reported by their 11th grade peers statewide (27 percent). Past-month general tobacco use
was reported by 29 percent of LISD 12th grade students (31 percent statewide).

Fifty-five* percent of Laredo students reported smoking cigarettes at least once during their
lifetimes (52 percent statewide), and 24 percent of Laredo students said they had smoked
cigarettes during the past month (22 percent statewide). Smoking cigarettes on a daily basis
was reported by 4* percent of district students (7 percent statewide). Daily cigarette use was
reported by 6* percent of Laredo ISD 12th graders, a rate somewhat lower than that reported by
12th graders statewide (12 percent statewide). Twenty-one* percent of LISD students said most
or all of their close friends smoke cigarettes (19 percent statewide).

Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 12* percent of LISD students (17
percent statewide), while 3* percent said they had used a smokeless tobacco product during the
past month (6 percent statewide). Using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis was
reported by 1* percent of district students (2 percent statewide), and 4 percent said most or all
of their close friends use smokeless tobacco (5 percent statewide).

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Alcohol

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

Seventy-four percent of Laredo students reported consuming alcohol at least once during their
lifetimes, the same rate reported by students statewide (Fig. 1). Lifetime alcohol use was lowest
among LISD 7th graders (60 percent/58 percent statewide). Seventy-four* percent of Laredo
10th grade students reported consuming alcohol at least once during their lifetimes, a rate
somewhat lower than that reported by their 10th grade peers statewide (81 percent). Lifetime
alcohol use was highest among district 12th graders (83 percent/86 percent statewide) and LISD
11th graders (81 percent/83 percent statewide) (Fig. 3).

Forty percent of Laredo ISD students said they had consumed alcohol during the past month
(39 percent statewide) (Fig. 2). Current alcohol use was lowest among LISD 7th graders (30*
percent), a rate somewhat higher than that reported by 7th graders statewide (24 percent). Past-
month alcohol use was highest among district 12th graders (51 percent/52 percent statewide)
(Fig. 4).

The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by Laredo students are beer (57 percent/59
percent statewide) and wine coolers (58 percent/61 percent statewide). Thirty-six percent of
LISD students said they drink beer on a weekly or monthly basis (37 percent statewide), and 33
percent said they drink wine coolers weekly or monthly (34 percent statewide).

"Binge drinking" is the consumption of five or more beers, wine coolers, servings of wine, or
drinks with liquor at one time. Thirty-six* percent of Laredo ISD students reported "binge
drinking" beer at least once during the past year (39 percent statewide), while 19 percent said
they usually drink five or more beers at a time on average when they drink (20 percent
statewide). Past-year "binge drinking" of wine coolers was reported by 39 percent of LISD
students (41 percent statewide), while 18 percent said they usually drink five or more wine
coolers at a time on average when they drink (19 percent statewide).

Eight* percent of Laredo students reported attending at least one class during the past school
year while "drunk" (10 percent statewide). Attending class while intoxicated was reported by 9
percent of LISD 8th graders (10 percent statewide) and 9 percent of district 12th graders (10
percent statewide). Six* percent of Laredo 10th graders (11 percent statewide) and 6 percent of
district 7th graders (7 percent statewide) reported attending at least one class during the past
school year while "drunk" (Figs. 9a and 9b).

Thirteen percent of LISD 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). The

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highest rate of driving while intoxicated was reported by Laredo 12th graders (22 percent/26
percent statewide). Driving while intoxicated four or more times during the past year was
reported by 3 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. Sixty-seven* percent of Laredo ISD students said beer, wine, wine coolers, or liquor
were somewhat easy or very easy to obtain, compared to 77 percent of students statewide.
Forty-one percent of district students reported most or all of their close friends drink alcohol (40
percent statewide), and 39 percent responded "from friends" when asked where they obtained
alcohol most of the time or always (40 percent statewide). "Difficulties of any kind" with
friends because of one's own drinking was reported by 8 percent of LISD students (10 percent
statewide).

Thirty-nine percent of Laredo students said alcohol was used at most or all of the parties they
attended in the past school year, the same rate reported by students statewide. The highest rate
of alcohol use at most or all parties was reported by LISD 12th graders (58 percent/62 percent
statewide). Forty-nine percent of Laredo 11th grade students said alcohol was used at most or
all of the parties they attended in the past school year, a rate somewhat lower than that reported
by their 11th grade peers statewide (57 percent) (Figs. 12a and 12b). Forty-eight* percent of
district students responded "at parties" when asked where they obtained alcohol most of the
time or always (44 percent statewide), while 19 percent of LISD students said they get alcohol
"from the store" most of the time or always (21 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 LISD students who had not been absent since the Fall
reported having used alcohol during the past month (26 percent/26 percent statewide) than did
district students who said they had missed four or more days of school (50 percent/47 percent
statewide). Sixty-eight 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 (65 percent
statewide). By contrast, only 26 percent of district students who had not experienced
difficulties with school officials because of conduct problems had used alcohol within the past
30 days (26 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, 71* percent of Laredo students
said their parents strongly or mildly disapprove (75 percent statewide). Sixteen* percent of
district students said they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age drinking beer,
a rate somewhat higher than that reported by students statewide (10 percent). Nine* percent of
LISD students said their parents neither approve nor disapprove of kids their age drinking beer
(11 percent statewide) (Fig. 15).

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Inhalants3

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, Laredo ISD students are using
inhalants at rates somewhat similar to those reported by their counterparts statewide.

Thirteen* percent of Laredo students reported using inhalants at least once during their
lifetimes, a rate somewhat lower than that reported by students statewide (19 percent) (Fig. 1).
Lifetime inhalant use was highest among district 7th grade students (18 percent/20 percent
statewide) and LISD 8th grade students (18* percent/24 percent statewide). Nine* percent of
Laredo 12th grade students (15 percent statewide) and 7* percent of LISD 11th grade students
(14 percent statewide) reported lifetime inhalant use, rates somewhat lower than those reported
by their peers statewide (Figs. 5a and 5b).

Four percent of Laredo ISD students said they had used inhalants during the past month (5
percent statewide) (Fig. 2). Current inhalant use was highest among district 7th grade students
(8 percent/7 percent statewide) and LISD 8th grade students (8 percent/8 percent statewide).
One* percent of Laredo 10th graders (4 percent statewide), 1 percent of district 11th graders (2
percent statewide), and 1 percent of LISD 12th graders (2 percent statewide) said they had used
inhalants during the past month (Figs. 6a and 6b).

Two percent of LISD students reported most or all of their close friends use inhalants (3 percent
statewide), and 2* percent said they had attended at least one class during the past school year
while "high" on inhalants (3 percent statewide). Eight* percent of LISD 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 Laredo ISD students was correction
fluid/Liquid Paper (7* percent/10 percent statewide). Five* percent of LISD students said they
had inhaled liquid/spray paint (7 percent statewide), 5* percent reported inhaling substances in
the "other inhalants" category (8 percent statewide), 4* percent said they had inhaled glue (6
percent statewide), and 4* percent said they had inhaled paint thinner (6 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

3
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.

5
marijuana, the most frequently used illicit substance, has also increased among students
statewide over the last two years.

In the Laredo ISD, 18* percent of students reported use of illicit drugs at least once during their
lifetimes (28 percent statewide), while 11* percent of LISD students said they had used one or
more illicit substances three or more times (19 percent statewide), rates somewhat lower than
those reported by their peers statewide. Statewide, students who said they had used illicit drugs
reported using them an average of 1.4 times in the past 30 days and 4.2 times during their lives.
Laredo students reported average usage rates of 0.8 times in the past month and 2.2 times
during their lifetimes.

Sixteen* percent of LISD students reported using marijuana at least once in their lifetimes, a
rate somewhat lower than that reported by students statewide (25 percent) (Fig. 1). Lifetime
marijuana use was reported by 21* percent of Laredo 12th graders (34 percent statewide) and
19* percent of district 11th graders (32 percent statewide), rates lower than those reported by
their counterparts statewide. The rate of lifetime marijuana use was lowest among LISD 7th
grade students (10 percent/13 percent statewide) (Figs. 5a and 5b).

Past-month marijuana use was reported by 7* percent of Laredo ISD students (12 percent
statewide) (Fig. 2). Current marijuana use was reported by 8 percent of Laredo 8th graders (11
percent statewide) and 8* percent of district 12th graders (14 percent statewide). Six percent of
LISD 7th graders reported past-month marijuana use, the same rate reported by 7th graders
statewide (Figs. 6a and 6b).

Six* percent of LISD students reported attending at least one class in the past year while
"stoned" on marijuana (9 percent statewide) (Figs. 10a and 10b). Driving under the influence of
drugs at least once during the past year was reported by 4 percent of Laredo ISD 9th through
12th grade students (8 percent statewide). Driving under the influence of drugs was reported by
6* percent of LISD 12th graders, a rate somewhat lower than that reported by 12th graders
statewide (12 percent).

Thirty-four* percent of LISD students said marijuana was somewhat or very easy to obtain, (48
percent statewide), and 10* percent reported most or all of their close friends use marijuana (17
percent statewide), rates lower than those reported by students statewide. Three 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).

Eleven* percent of 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, a rate somewhat lower than that
reported by students statewide (17 percent). The highest reported drug use at parties was
among district 11th graders (16* percent), a rate somewhat lower than that reported by 11th
graders statewide (25 percent).

Fewer Laredo ISD students who had not been absent since the Fall reported having used
marijuana during the past month (3 percent/6 percent statewide) than did district students who

6
said they had missed four or more days of school (10 percent/15 percent statewide). Two
percent of district students who had not gotten into trouble with school officials reported using
marijuana within the past 30 days (4 percent statewide). By contrast, 20* 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, a rate lower than that reported by students statewide (31
percent).

When asked about parental attitudes toward marijuana use, Laredo students reported a
disapproval rate of 84* percent (87 percent statewide). Thirteen* percent of district students
said they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age using marijuana (8 percent
statewide), while 2 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (4 percent
statewide) (Fig. 15).

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

CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH DRUG USE

Statewide, female students were less likely to have used drugs than were male students. In the
Laredo ISD, male students were somewhat more likely to have used marijuana than were
district female students. There were no other significant differences by gender among LISD
students with regard to the use of tobacco, alcohol, inhalants, or other illicit substances.

Statewide, students making A and B grades reported lower drug use than did students making
C, D, and F grades. In the Laredo ISD, students reporting lower grades were nearly two times
more likely to have used inhalants or marijuana and over two times more likely to use
powdered cocaine than were those students making A and B grades. There were no other
significant differences by grade average among LISD students with regard to the use of
tobacco, alcohol, or other illegal drugs.

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
somewhat more likely to have used marijuana than were those district students living in homes
with two parents. There were no other significant differences by living arrangement among
Laredo ISD students with regard to the use of tobacco, alcohol, inhalants, or other illegal
substances.

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 (66* percent), a rate
somewhat lower than that reported by students statewide (74 percent). Sixty-one* percent of
LISD students said they would seek help from an adult friend or relative (57 percent statewide),

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and 62* percent said they would turn to their parents (54 percent statewide). District students
are least likely to seek help from another adult in school, such as a nurse or teacher (43*
percent/33 percent statewide) or a medical doctor (43* percent/38 percent statewide) (Fig. 17).
Since school began in the Fall, 10* percent of Laredo 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 Laredo ISD students said they had gotten information about drugs and
alcohol from a school source since classes began in the Fall, a rate higher than that reported by
students statewide (79 percent). Sixty-six* percent of LISD students said "an invited school
guest" was a source for information about drugs and alcohol, a rate somewhat higher than that
reported by students statewide (46 percent). "An assembly program" was reported by 61*
percent of district students as a source for information about drugs and alcohol, compared to 53
percent of students statewide. Forty-eight* percent of LISD 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-two percent of Laredo students believe that crack use is "very
dangerous" (91 percent statewide), and 91* percent believe that powdered cocaine use is "very
dangerous" (90 percent statewide). Eighty-two* percent of LISD students believe that inhalant
use is "very dangerous" (77 percent statewide). Eighty* percent of district students believe that
marijuana use is "very dangerous," a rate higher than that reported by their counterparts
statewide (67 percent). By contrast, the perceived danger of alcohol and tobacco use is lower.
Only 51* percent of LISD students feel that it is "very dangerous" to use alcohol (46 percent
statewide). Forty-nine* percent of Laredo ISD students believe that tobacco use is "very
dangerous," a rate somewhat higher than that reported by students statewide (41 percent) (Fig.
13).