TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE

SHARYLAND 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 Sharyland Independent School District (SISD). A total of
1354 students completed the questionnaire, which asked about students' experiences with
alcohol and drugs. Of that number, 76 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 1278.1

Students' responses to the questionnaire indicate that:

•Forty-eight* percent of Sharyland ISD students reported using tobacco at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 23 percent said they had used tobacco during
the past month (Fig. 2).2

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

•Sixty-six* percent of Sharyland ISD students said they had used alcohol at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 34* percent reported using alcohol during the
past month (Fig. 2).

•Six* percent of SISD students reported attending at least one class during the past year
while "drunk," and 14 percent of district 9th through 12th grade students said

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 I: 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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 they had driven a car at least once during the past year after having "a good bit
to drink."

•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).

•Fifteen* percent of SISD students reported using marijuana at least once during their
lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 6* percent said they had used marijuana during the past
month (Fig. 2).

•Sharyland ISD students are most likely to turn to friends for help with a drug or alcohol
problem (74 percent) and least likely to consult a medical doctor (35* 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 Sharyland ISD students is somewhat similar to that reported by their
counterparts statewide.

Forty-eight* percent of Sharyland students reported general tobacco use at least once during
their lifetimes, compared to 55 percent of students statewide (Fig. 1). Lifetime general tobacco
use was highest among district 12th graders (60 percent/63 percent statewide). Thirty-one*
percent of SISD 7th graders reported using a tobacco product at least once during their
lifetimes, a rate somewhat lower than that reported by 7th graders statewide (40 percent
statewide).

Twenty-three percent of Sharyland ISD students said they had used a tobacco product during
the past month (24 percent statewide) (Fig. 2). Past-month general tobacco use was highest
among SISD 12th grade students (33 percent/31 percent statewide) and lowest among district
7th grade students (13 percent/16 percent statewide).

Forty-seven* percent of Sharyland students reported smoking cigarettes at least once during
their lifetimes (52 percent statewide), and 22 percent of Sharyland 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). Daily cigarette use
was highest among Sharyland ISD 12th graders (11 percent/12 percent statewide). Four*
percent of district 10th graders reported daily cigarette use, a rate somewhat lower than that
reported by 10th graders statewide (10 percent). Twenty percent of SISD students said most or
all of their close friends smoke cigarettes (19 percent statewide).

Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 15 percent of SISD students (17
percent statewide), while 6 percent said they had used a smokeless tobacco product during the

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past month (6 percent statewide). Using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis was
reported by 2 percent of district students (2 percent statewide), and 7 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 Sharyland ISD.
Alcohol use among secondary students statewide was similar to that reported two years ago.
Overall, Sharyland ISD students are drinking alcohol at rates somewhat lower than those
reported by their peers statewide.

Sixty-six* percent of Sharyland students reported consuming alcohol at least once during their
lifetimes, compared to 74 percent of students statewide (Fig. 1). Lifetime alcohol use was
lowest among SISD 7th graders (52 percent/58 percent statewide). Fifty-eight* percent of
district 8th graders (69 percent statewide), 67* percent of Sharyland 11th graders (83 percent
statewide), and 71* percent of SISD 10th graders (81 percent statewide) said they had
consumed alcohol at least once during their lifetimes, rates lower than those reported by their
counterparts statewide. Lifetime alcohol use was highest among district 12th graders (81
percent/86 percent statewide) (Fig. 3).

Thirty-four* percent of Sharyland ISD students said they had consumed alcohol during the past
month (39 percent statewide) (Fig. 2). Current alcohol use was lowest among SISD 7th graders
(21 percent/24 percent statewide) and highest among district 12th graders (48 percent/52
percent statewide) (Fig. 4).

The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by Sharyland students are wine coolers (55*
percent/61 percent statewide) and beer (53* percent/59 percent statewide), rates somewhat
lower than those reported by students statewide. Thirty* percent of SISD students said they
drink beer on a weekly or monthly basis, compared to 37 percent of students statewide. Thirty-
one percent of district students 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. Past-year "binge drinking" of wine coolers was reported by 32*
percent of SISD students, a rate somewhat lower than that reported by their peers statewide (41
percent). Fifteen* percent of district students said they usually drink five or more wine coolers
at a time on average when they drink (19 percent statewide). Thirty-one* percent of Sharyland
ISD students reported "binge drinking" beer at least once during the past year (39 percent
statewide), while 14* percent said they usually drink five or more beers at a time on average
when they drink (20 percent statewide), rates somewhat lower than those reported by students
statewide.

Six* percent of Sharyland students reported attending at least one class during the past school
year while "drunk" (10 percent statewide). The rates of attending class while intoxicated ranged

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from 4* percent of SISD 11th graders (10 percent statewide) to 7 percent of district 8th graders
(10 percent statewide) and 7 percent of Sharyland 9th graders (10 percent statewide) (Figs. 9a
and 9b).

Fourteen percent of SISD 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
highest rate of driving while intoxicated was reported by Sharyland 12th graders (21 percent/26
percent statewide). Driving while intoxicated four or more times during the past year was
reported by 4 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-two* percent of Sharyland ISD students said beer, wine, wine coolers, or
liquor were somewhat easy or very easy to obtain (77 percent statewide). Thirty-six percent of
district students reported most or all of their close friends drink alcohol (40 percent statewide),
and 35 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 SISD students (10 percent statewide).

Thirty-six percent of Sharyland students said alcohol was used at most or all of the parties they
attended in the past school year (39 percent statewide). The highest rate of alcohol use at most
or all parties was reported by SISD 12th graders (63 percent/62 percent statewide). Forty*
percent of Sharyland ISD 10th grade students said alcohol was used at most or all of the parties
they attended in the past school year, a rate lower than that reported by 10th grade students
statewide (52 percent statewide) (Figs. 12a and 12b). Forty* percent of district students
responded "at parties" when asked where they obtained alcohol most of the time or always (44
percent statewide), while 21 percent of SISD 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 SISD students who had not been absent since the Fall
reported having used alcohol during the past month (22 percent/26 percent statewide) than did
district students who said they had missed four or more days of school (40* percent/47 percent
statewide). Fifty-six* 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, compared
to 65 percent of students statewide. By contrast, only 27 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, 80* percent of Sharyland
students said their parents strongly or mildly disapprove (75 percent statewide). Nine percent of
district students said they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age drinking beer
(10 percent statewide), and 8* percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (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, Sharyland ISD students are using
inhalants at rates somewhat similar to those reported by their counterparts statewide.

Thirteen* percent of Sharyland students reported using inhalants at least once during their
lifetimes, a rate somewhat lower than that reported by students statewide (19 percent) (Fig. 1).
The rates of lifetime inhalant use ranged from 9 percent of SISD 11th grade students (14
percent statewide) to 17 percent of district 9th grade students (19 percent statewide). Sixteen
percent of SISD 8th graders reported lifetime inhalant use, compared to 24 percent of 8th
graders statewide (Figs. 5a and 5b).

Four percent of Sharyland ISD students said they had used inhalants during the past month (5
percent statewide) (Fig. 2). The rates of current inhalant use ranged from 1 percent of SISD
11th grade students (2 percent statewide) to 7 percent of district 8th grade students (8 percent
statewide) (Figs. 6a and 6b).

Two percent of SISD students reported most or all of their close friends use inhalants (3 percent
statewide), and 3 percent said they had attended at least one class during the past school year
while "high" on inhalants (3 percent statewide). Eight* percent of SISD 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 Sharyland students was correction fluid/Liquid
Paper (8 percent/10 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 (6 percent statewide), 5 percent reported inhaling gasoline (6 percent statewide),
and 5 percent said they had inhaled liquid/spray paint (7 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
marijuana, the most frequently used illicit substance, has also increased among students
statewide over the last two years.

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.

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In the Sharyland ISD, 17* percent of students reported use of illicit drugs at least once during
their lifetimes (28 percent statewide), while 11* percent of SISD students said they had used
one or more illicit substances three or more times (19 percent statewide), rates lower than those
reported by students 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.
Sharyland students reported average usage rates of 0.9 times in the past month and 2.5 times
during their lifetimes.

Fifteen* percent of SISD students reported using marijuana at least once in their lifetimes, a rate
lower than that reported by their peers statewide (25 percent) (Fig. 1). Lifetime marijuana use
was highest among Sharyland 12th graders (25 percent), compared to 34 percent of 12th
graders statewide. Seventeen* percent of district 9th graders (28 percent statewide), 17*
percent of SISD 10th graders (30 percent statewide), and 19* percent of Sharyland 11th graders
(32 percent statewide), rates lower than those reported by their counterparts statewide. Lifetime
marijuana use was lowest among district 7th graders (5* percent), a rate somewhat lower than
that reported by 7th graders statewide (13 percent) (Figs. 5a and 5b).

Past-month marijuana use was reported by 6* percent of Sharyland ISD students, compared to
12 percent of students statewide (Fig. 2). The rates of current marijuana use ranged from 1*
percent of SISD 7th graders (6 percent statewide) to 9 percent of district 12th graders (14
percent statewide). Five* percent of Sharyland 9th graders (14 percent statewide), 5* percent
of district 11th graders (14 percent statewide), and 8* percent of SISD 10th graders (14 percent
statewide) reported past-month marijuana use, rates somewhat lower than those reported by
their counterparts statewide (Figs. 6a and 6b).

Four* percent of SISD 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 6 percent of Sharyland ISD 9th through
12th grade students (8 percent statewide). Driving under the influence of drugs was reported by
9 percent of SISD 12th graders (12 percent statewide).

Thirty-seven* percent of SISD students said marijuana was somewhat or very easy to obtain
(48 percent statewide), and 8* percent reported most or all of their close friends use marijuana
(17 percent statewide), rates lower than those reported by students statewide. Five 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).

Ten* percent of the Sharyland 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 17 percent of
students statewide. Marijuana and/or other drug use at most or all parties was reported by 13*
percent of SISD 11th graders (25 percent statewide), 14* percent of Sharyland 10th graders (23
percent statewide), and 15 percent district 12th graders (24 percent statewide), rates somewhat
lower than those reported by their peers statewide.

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When asked about parental attitudes toward marijuana use, Sharyland students reported a
disapproval rate of 89 percent (87 percent statewide). Seven 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. 17).

Other illicit substances are used by a small number of Sharyland ISD students. Uppers are the
next most frequently used illicit substance among Sharyland ISD students (6* percent/7 percent
statewide). Reported use of uppers was highest among district 12th graders (11 percent/10
percent statewide) (Figs. 6a and 6b). Six percent of district students reported using uppers (7
percent statewide), 5 percent said they had used powdered cocaine (5 percent statewide), 4
percent reported using downers (5 percent statewide), and 3* percent said they had used
hallucinogens (6 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
Sharyland ISD, male students were somewhat more likely to have used a tobacco product or an
inhalant and nearly twice as likely to have smoked marijuana than were district female students.
There were no other significant differences by gender among SISD students with regard to the
use of alcohol products or other illicit substances.

In the statewide survey, students living in two-parent homes reported lower drug use than did
students living in other family situations. SISD students living in other family situations were
somewhat more likely to have used a tobacco product, an inhalant, powdered cocaine, or a
downer and over two times more likely to have smoked marijuana or used an upper than were
those district students living in homes with two parents. There were no other significant
differences by living arrangement among Sharyland ISD students with regard to the use of
alcohol products or other illegal drugs.

When asked where they would go for help with a drug or alcohol problem, the largest
percentage of Sharyland students said they would seek help from their friends (74 percent/74
percent statewide). Fifty-seven percent of SISD students said they would seek help from an
adult friend or relative (57 percent statewide), and 56 percent said they would turn to their
parents (54 percent statewide). District students are least likely to seek help from a medical
doctor (35 percent/38 percent statewide) (Fig. 17). Since school began in the Fall, 7 percent of
Sharyland students reported seeking help for any problems connected with alcohol or drug use
from someone other than family or friends (7 percent statewide).

Eighty-eight* percent of Sharyland ISD students said they had gotten information about drugs
and alcohol from a school source since classes began in the Fall, compared to 79 percent of
students statewide. "An assembly program" was reported by 73* percent of district students as
a source for information about drugs and alcohol (53 percent statewide), while 70* percent said
"an invited school guest" for this information (46 percent statewide), rates higher than those

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reported by students statewide. Forty-six percent of district 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 percent of Sharyland students believe that crack use is "very
dangerous" (91 percent statewide), and 89 percent believe that powdered cocaine use is "very
dangerous" (90 percent statewide). Seventy-eight percent of SISD students believe that inhalant
use is "very dangerous" (77 percent statewide). Seventy-five* percent of district students
believe that marijuana use is "very dangerous," a rate somewhat higher than that reported by
students statewide (67 percent). By contrast, the perceived danger of alcohol and tobacco use is
lower. Only 50 percent of SISD students feel that it is "very dangerous" to use alcohol (46
percent statewide), while 43 percent believe that tobacco use is "very dangerous" (41 percent
statewide) (Fig. 13).