TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE

ALVORD 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 9 through 12 in the Alvord Independent School District (AISD). A total of
19 students completed the questionnaire, which asked about students' experiences with alcohol
and drugs. Since no students were identified as exaggerators, all 19 surveys were included in
analysis.1

Students' responses to the questionnaire indicate that:

•Sixty-three percent of Alvord ISD students reported using tobacco at least once during
their lifetimes, and 16 percent said they had used tobacco during the past month.

•Five percent of AISD students said they smoke cigarettes on a daily basis, while 5
percent reported using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis.

•Sixty-eight percent of Alvord ISD students said they had used alcohol at least once
during their lifetimes, and 32 percent reported using alcohol during the past
month.

•Five percent of AISD students reported attending at least one class during the past year
while "drunk," while none of the district students said 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 5 percent of district students, while none of
the students reported past-month inhalant use.

•Twenty-six percent of AISD students reported using marijuana at least once during
their lifetimes, while none of the students said they had used marijuana during
the past month.

•Alvord ISD students are most likely to turn to friends for help with a drug or alcohol
problem (82 percent) and least likely to consult a counselor or program outside
of school (59 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 Alvord ISD students is similar to that reported by their counterparts
statewide.

Sixty-three percent of Alvord students reported general tobacco use at least once during their
lifetimes (55 percent statewide).2 Sixteen percent of Alvord ISD students said they had used a
tobacco product during the past month (24 percent statewide).

Sixty-three percent of Alvord students reported smoking cigarettes at least once during their
lifetimes (52 percent statewide), while 16 percent of district students said they had smoked
cigarettes during the past month (24 percent statewide). Smoking cigarettes on a daily basis
was reported by 5 percent of district students (7 percent statewide), while 6 percent said most or
all of their close friends smoke cigarettes (18 percent statewide).

Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 11 percent of AISD students (16
percent statewide), while 5 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 5 percent of district students (2 percent statewide), and 6 percent said most or all of
their close friends use smokeless tobacco (15 percent statewide).

Alcohol

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

Sixty-eight percent of Alvord students reported consuming alcohol at least once during their
lifetimes (74 percent statewide). Thirty-two percent of Alvord ISD students said they had
consumed alcohol during the past month (39 percent statewide).

The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by Alvord students are beer (58 percent/59
percent statewide) and wine coolers (53 percent/61 percent statewide). Twenty-six percent of
AISD students said they drink beer on a weekly or monthly basis (37 percent statewide), and 16
percent said they drink wine coolers weekly or monthly (34 percent statewide).

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

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"Binge drinking" is the consumption of five or more beers, wine coolers, servings of wine, or
drinks with liquor at one time. Thirty-one percent of Alvord ISD students reported "binge
drinking" beer at least once during their lifetimes (39 percent statewide), while 5 percent said
they usually drink five or more beers at a time on average when they drink (20 percent
statewide). Lifetime "binge drinking" of wine coolers was reported by 36 percent of AISD
students (41 percent statewide), while 11 percent said they usually drink five or more wine
coolers at a time on average when they drink (19 percent statewide).

Five percent of Alvord students reported attending at least one class during the past school year
while "drunk" (10 percent statewide). None of the AISD 9th through 12th grade students said
they had driven a car after having "a good bit to drink" during the past year (15 percent
statewide).

Students were asked about the availability of alcohol, its use among friends, and its use at
parties. Seventy-four percent of Alvord ISD students said beer, wine, wine coolers, or liquor
were somewhat easy or very easy to obtain (77 percent statewide). Thirty-three percent of
district students reported most or all of their close friends drink alcohol (40 percent statewide),
and 37 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 5 percent of AISD students (10 percent statewide).

Fifty-three percent of Alvord students said alcohol was used at most or all of the parties they
attended in the past school year (39 percent statewide). Thirty-seven percent of district students
responded "at parties" when asked where they obtain alcohol most of the time or always (44
percent statewide), while 21 percent of AISD 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 AISD students who had not been absent since the Fall
reported having used alcohol during the past month (0 percent/26 percent statewide) than did
district students who said they had missed four or more days of school (36 percent/47 percent
statewide). Sixty-seven 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 25 percent of district students who had not experienced
difficulties with school officials 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, 89 percent of Alvord students
said their parents strongly or mildly disapprove (75 percent statewide). Five percent of district
students said they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age drinking beer (10
percent statewide), and 5 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (11 percent
statewide).

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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, Alvord ISD students are using
inhalants at rates somewhat lower than those reported by their counterparts statewide.

Five percent of Alvord students reported using inhalants at least once during their lifetimes (19
percent statewide). None of the Alvord ISD students said they had used inhalants during the
past month (5 percent statewide).

None of the AISD students reported most or all of their close friends use inhalants (3 percent
statewide), and none said they had attended class during the past school year while "high" on
inhalants (3 percent statewide). Five percent of AISD students said they had used two or more
different kinds of inhalant substances during their lifetimes (12 percent statewide).

The inhalant substances most frequently used by Alvord students were gasoline (5 percent/6
percent statewide), glue (5 percent/6 percent statewide), liquid/spray paint (5 percent/7 percent
statewide), paint thinner (5 percent/6 percent statewide), and substances in the "other inhalants"
category (5 percent/8 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 Alvord ISD, 26 percent of students reported use of illicit drugs at least once during their
lifetimes (28 percent statewide), while 11 percent of AISD 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. Alvord students reported average usage rates of 0 times in the past
month and 3.7 times during their lifetimes.

Twenty-six percent of AISD students reported using marijuana at least once during their
lifetimes (25 percent statewide). None of the Alvord ISD students reported past-month
marijuana use.

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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None of the AISD students reported attending class in the past year while "stoned" on marijuana
(9 percent statewide), and none of the district students reported driving under the influence of
drugs during the past year (8 percent statewide).

Thirty-nine percent of AISD students said marijuana was somewhat or very easy to obtain (38
percent statewide), while none of the students reported most or all of their close friends use
marijuana (17 percent statewide). None of the district 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 Alvord 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).

When asked about parental attitudes toward marijuana use, Alvord students reported a
disapproval rate of 94 percent (87 percent statewide). Six percent of district students said they
"don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age using marijuana (8 percent statewide),
while none of the students said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (4 percent
statewide).

Downers (5 percent/5 percent statewide) and powdered cocaine (5 percent/5 percent statewide)
are the only other illicit substances used by AISD students. None of the AISD students reported
using crack, hallucinogens, uppers, steroids, or ecstasy during their lifetimes.

CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH DRUG USE

When asked where they would go for help with a drug or alcohol problem, the largest
percentage of Alvord students said they would seek help from their friends (82 percent/74
percent statewide). Seventy-eight percent of AISD students said they would seek help from an
adult friend or relative (57 percent statewide), and 72 percent said they would turn to their
parents (54 percent statewide). District students are least likely to seek help from a counselor or
program outside of school (59 percent/45 percent statewide). Since school began in the Fall, 7
percent of Alvord students reported seeking help for any problems connected with alcohol or
drug use from someone other than family or friends (7 percent statewide).

Ninety-four percent of Alvord 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
assembly program" was reported by 88 percent of district students as a source for this
information (53 percent statewide), while 88 percent said "an invited school guest" was a source
for information about drugs and alcohol (46 percent statewide). Fifty-six percent of AISD
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. One hundred percent of Alvord students believe that crack use is "very
dangerous" (91 percent statewide), and 100 percent believe that powdered cocaine use is "very

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dangerous" (90 percent statewide). One hundred percent of AISD students believe that inhalant
use is "very dangerous," a rate higher than that reported by their counterparts statewide (77
percent), and 94 percent believe that marijuana use is "very dangerous" (67 percent statewide).
By contrast, the perceived danger of alcohol and tobacco use is lower. Only 65 percent of
AISD students feel that it is "very dangerous" to use alcohol (46 percent statewide), while 53
percent believe that tobacco use is "very dangerous" (41 percent statewide).