TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE
RAINS ISD
SECONDARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
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 Rains Independent School District (RISD). A total of 543 students completed the questionnaire, which asked about students' experiences with alcohol and drugs. Of that number, 31 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 512.1
•Fifty-six percent of Rains 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).
•Seventy percent of Rains 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).
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."
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.
•Sixteen* percent of RISD students reported using marijuana at least once during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 4* percent said they had used marijuana during the past month (Fig. 2).
•Rains ISD students are most likely to turn to friends for help with a drug or alcohol problem (75 percent) and least likely to consult another adult in school, such as a nurse or teacher (31 percent) (Fig. 17).
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 Rains ISD students is similar to that reported by their counterparts statewide.
Fifty-six percent of Rains students reported general tobacco use at least once during their lifetimes (55 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Lifetime tobacco use was reported by 43 percent of district 7th and 8th graders (46 percent statewide) and 65 percent of RISD 9th through 12th graders (60 percent statewide).
Twenty-five percent of Rains ISD students said they had used a tobacco product during the past month (24 percent statewide) (Fig. 2). Current general tobacco use was reported by 17 percent of RISD 7th and 8th grade students (20 percent statewide) and 30 percent of district 9th through 12th grade students (27 percent statewide).
Fifty-one percent of Rains students reported smoking cigarettes at least once during their lifetimes (52 percent statewide), and 18 percent said they had smoked cigarettes during the past month (22 percent statewide). Smoking cigarettes on a daily basis was reported by 11 percent of district students (7 percent statewide). Daily use of cigarettes was reported by 6 percent of Rains 7th and 8th grade students (4 percent statewide) and 14 percent of district 9th through 12th grade students (9 percent statewide). Sixteen percent of RISD students said most or all of their close friends smoke cigarettes (19 percent statewide).
Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 34* percent of RISD students (17 percent statewide), while 13* 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 6* percent of district students (2 percent statewide), and 15* percent said most or all
Alcohol is the most widely used substance among students statewide and in the Rains ISD. Alcohol use among secondary students statewide was similar to that reported two years ago. Overall, Rains ISD students are drinking alcohol at rates similar to those reported by their peers statewide.
Seventy percent of Rains students reported consuming alcohol at least once during their lifetimes (74 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Lifetime alcohol use was reported by 56 percent of RISD 7th and 8th graders (63 percent statewide) and 80 percent of district 9th through 12th graders (81 percent statewide) (Fig. 3).
Thirty-two* percent of Rains ISD students said they had consumed alcohol during the past month, compared to 39 percent of students statewide (Fig. 2). Current alcohol use was reported by 20* percent of district 7th and 8th grade students, a rate lower than that reported by their peers statewide (29 percent). Forty-two percent of RISD 9th through 12th grade students said they had consumed alcohol during the past month (46 percent statewide) (Fig. 4).
The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by Rains students are beer (56 percent/59 percent statewide) and wine coolers (56 percent/61 percent statewide). Thirty-three percent of RISD 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. Thirty-six percent of Rains ISD students reported "binge drinking" beer at least once during the past year (39 percent statewide), while 24 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 41 percent of RISD students (41 percent statewide), while 20 percent said they usually drink five or more wine coolers at a time on average when they drink (19 percent statewide).
Eight percent of Rains students reported attending at least one class during the past school year while "drunk" (10 percent statewide). Class attendance while intoxicated was reported by 6 percent of RISD 7th and 8th graders (9 percent statewide) and 9 percent of district 9th through 12th graders (10 percent statewide) (Fig. 9).
Nineteen percent of RISD 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). Driving while intoxicated four or more times during the past year was reported by 7 percent of district 9th through 12th graders (4 percent statewide) (Fig. 11).