TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE

LORENZO 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 Lorenzo Independent School District (LISD). A total of
163 students completed the questionnaire, which asked about students' experiences with alcohol
and drugs. Of that number, 22 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 141.1

Students' responses to the questionnaire indicate that:

•Sixty-three percent of Lorenzo ISD students reported using tobacco at least once during
their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 36* percent said they had used tobacco during the past
month (Fig. 2).2

•Five percent of LISD students said they smoke cigarettes on a daily basis, while 6 percent
reported using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis.

•Seventy-seven percent of Lorenzo ISD students said they had used alcohol at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 44 percent reported using alcohol during the past
month (Fig. 2).

•Eighteen percent of LISD students reported attending at least one class during the past year
while "drunk," and 17 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 22 percent of district students (Fig. 1), while
past-month inhalant use was reported by 6 percent (Fig. 2).

•Twenty-two percent of LISD students reported using marijuana at least once during their
lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 12 percent said they had used marijuana during the past
month (Fig. 2).

•Lorenzo ISD students are most likely to turn to friends for help with a drug or alcohol
problem (66 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 stayed much the same. Overall, the general use of
tobacco products among Lorenzo ISD students is somewhat higher than that reported by their
counterparts statewide.

Sixty-three percent of Lorenzo students reported general tobacco use at least once during their
lifetimes (55 percent statewide) (Fig. 1).3 Thirty-six* percent of Lorenzo ISD students said
they had used a tobacco product during the past month (24 percent statewide) (Fig. 2).

Fifty-seven percent of Lorenzo students reported smoking cigarettes at least once during their
lifetimes (52 percent statewide). Thirty-three percent of LISD students said they had smoked
cigarettes during the past month (22 percent statewide). Smoking cigarettes on a daily basis
was reported by 5 percent of district students (7 percent statewide), while 25 percent said most
or all of their close friends smoke cigarettes (19 percent statewide).

Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 33* percent of LISD students (17
percent statewide), while 16* 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 6 percent of district
students (2 percent statewide), and 14* percent said most or all of their close friends use
smokeless tobacco (5 percent statewide), rates also higher than those reported by students
statewide.

Alcohol

Alcohol is the most widely used substance among students statewide and in the Lorenzo ISD.
Alcohol use among secondary students statewide was similar to that reported two years ago.

3
Due to the small number of students surveyed in this district, no between-grade comparisons can be made.

2
Overall, Lorenzo ISD students are drinking alcohol at rates similar to those reported by their
peers statewide.

Seventy-seven percent of Lorenzo students reported consuming alcohol at least once during
their lifetimes (74 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Forty-four percent of Lorenzo ISD students said
they had consumed alcohol during the past month (39 percent statewide) (Fig. 2).

The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by Lorenzo students are beer (71 percent/59
percent statewide) and wine coolers (56 percent/61 percent statewide). Forty-two percent of
LISD students said they drink beer on a weekly or monthly basis (37 percent statewide), and 28
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. Fifty-eight percent of Lorenzo ISD students reported "binge
drinking" beer at least once during the past year (39 percent statewide), while 33* percent said
they usually drink five or more beers at a time on average when they drink (20 percent
statewide), rates higher than those reported by students statewide. Past-year "binge drinking" of
wine coolers was reported by 51 percent of LISD students (41 percent statewide), while 26
percent said they usually drink five or more wine coolers at a time on average when they drink
(19 percent statewide).

Eighteen percent of Lorenzo students reported attending at least one class during the past school
year while "drunk" (10 percent statewide) (Fig. 9). Seventeen 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). None of the district 9th through 12th graders
reported driving while intoxicated four or more times during the past year (4 percent statewide)
(Fig. 11).

Students were asked about the availability of alcohol, its use among friends, and its use at
parties. Seventy-one percent of Lorenzo ISD students said beer, wine, wine coolers, or liquor
were somewhat easy or very easy to obtain (77 percent statewide). Fifty-one percent of district
students reported most or all of their close friends drink alcohol (40 percent statewide), and 48
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 6 percent of LISD students (10 percent statewide).

Forty-three percent of Lorenzo students said alcohol was used at most or all of the parties they
attended in the past school year (39 percent statewide) (Fig. 12). Fifty-six percent of district
students responded "at parties" when asked where they obtained alcohol most of the time or
always (44 percent statewide), while 15 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

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reported having used alcohol during the past month (27 percent/26 percent statewide) than did
district students who said they had missed four or more days of school (51 percent/47 percent
statewide). Seventy-four* 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 35* 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 Lorenzo students
said their parents strongly or mildly disapprove (75 percent statewide). Twelve percent of
district students said they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age drinking beer
(10 percent statewide), and 10 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (11
percent statewide) (Fig. 15).

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

Twenty-two percent of Lorenzo students reported using inhalants at least once during their
lifetimes (19 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Six percent of Lorenzo ISD students said they had
used inhalants during the past month (5 percent statewide) (Fig. 2).

Four percent of LISD 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 (3 percent statewide). Fifteen 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 Lorenzo students was correction fluid/Liquid
Paper (12 percent/10 percent statewide). Ten percent of district students said they had inhaled
paint thinner (6 percent statewide), 10 percent reported inhaling substances in the "other
inhalants" category (8 percent statewide), 9 percent said they had inhaled liquid/spray paint (7
percent statewide), and 7 percent said they had inhaled glue (6 percent statewide) at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 7).

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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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 Lorenzo ISD, 25 percent of students reported use of illicit drugs at least once during their
lifetimes (28 percent statewide), while 16 percent of LISD students said they had used one or
more illicit substances three or more times (19 percent 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. Lorenzo students reported average usage rates of 1.4 times in the
past month and 3.7 times during their lifetimes.

Twenty-two percent of LISD students reported using marijuana at least once in their lifetimes
(25 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Past-month marijuana use was reported by 12 percent of
Lorenzo ISD students (12 percent statewide) (Fig. 2).

Seven percent of LISD students reported attending at least one class in the past year while
"stoned" on marijuana (9 percent statewide) (Fig. 10). Driving under the influence of drugs at
least once during the past year was reported by 5 percent Lorenzo ISD 9th through 12th grade
students (8 percent statewide).

Thirty-one* percent of LISD students said marijuana was somewhat or very easy to obtain (48
percent statewide), and 12 percent reported most or all of their close friends use marijuana (17
percent statewide). Two 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). Thirteen percent
of Lorenzo ISD students said that marijuana and/or other drugs were used at most or all of the
parties they attended during the school year (17 percent statewide).

Fifteen percent of district students who said they had missed four or more days of school
reported using marijuana during the past month (15 percent statewide). Eight 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, 34 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 (31 percent statewide).

When asked about parental attitudes toward marijuana use, Lorenzo students reported a
disapproval rate of 84 percent (87 percent statewide). Twelve percent of district students said
they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age using marijuana (8 percent
statewide), while 1 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (4 percent
statewide) (Fig. 15).

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Other illicit substances are used by a small number of Lorenzo ISD students. Four percent of
LISD students said they had used uppers (7 percent statewide), 4 percent reported using
powdered cocaine (5 percent statewide), 3 percent reported using crack (2 percent statewide), 2
percent said they had used hallucinogens (6 percent statewide), and 2 percent said they had used
steroids (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
Lorenzo ISD, male students were somewhat more likely to have used a tobacco product, over
two times more likely to have used inhalants, and over three times more likely to have used
marijuana than were district female students. In addition, district males were the only reported
users of steroids. There were no other significant differences by gender among LISD students
with regard to the use of alcohol 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 Lorenzo ISD, students reporting lower grades were somewhat more
likely to have used a tobacco product and over two times more likely to have used marijuana
than were those students making A and B grades. On the other hand, district students making A
and B grades were the only reported users of steroids or ecstasy. There were no other
significant differences by grade average among LISD students with regard to the use of 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 a tobacco product, over two times more likely to have used
marijuana, and over three times more likely to have used inhalants than were those district
students living in homes with two parents. In addition, district students living in other family
situations were the only reported users of steroids. On the other hand, district students living in
two-parent homes were the only reported users of hallucinogens. There were no other
significant differences by living arrangement among Lorenzo ISD students with regard to the
use of alcohol or other illicit substances.

When asked where they would go for help with a drug or alcohol problem, the largest
percentage of Lorenzo students said they would seek help from their friends (66 percent/74
percent statewide). Fifty-two percent of LISD students said they would seek help from an adult
friend or relative (57 percent statewide), and 52 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, 9 percent of Lorenzo
students reported seeking help for any problems connected with alcohol or drug use from
someone other than family or friends (7 percent statewide).

Eighty-five percent of Lorenzo ISD students said they had gotten information about drugs and
alcohol from a school source since classes began in the Fall (79 percent statewide). "An

6
assembly program" was reported by 64 percent of district students as a source for this
information (53 percent statewide). Forty-eight percent of district students said "an invited
school guest" was a source for information about drugs and alcohol (46 percent statewide), and
52 percent 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-one percent of Lorenzo 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), and 79 percent believe that marijuana use is
"very dangerous" (67 percent statewide). By contrast, the perceived danger of alcohol and
tobacco use is lower. Only 50 percent of LISD students feel that it is "very dangerous" to use
alcohol (46 percent statewide), while 42 percent believe that tobacco use is "very dangerous"
(41 percent statewide) (Fig. 13).