TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE

BALMORHEA 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 Balmorhea Independent School District (BISD). A total
of 97 students completed the questionnaire, which asked about students' experiences with
alcohol and drugs. Of that number, 2 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 95.1

Students' responses to the questionnaire indicate that:

•Fifty-two percent of Balmorhea ISD students reported using tobacco at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 12* percent said they had used tobacco
during the past month (Fig. 2).2

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

•Seventy-four percent of Balmorhea ISD students said they had used alcohol at least
once during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 33 percent reported using alcohol during
the past month (Fig. 2).

1
     The percentages referred to in the executive summary were taken from the tables found in "Part I
(Standardized): District Survey Results." Sixth grade student participation in the secondary survey has been
eliminated throughout this report so that comparisons can be made with statewide data. 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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•Eight percent of BISD students reported attending at least one class during the past
year while "drunk," and 24 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."

•Lifetime use of inhalants was reported by 18 percent of district students (Fig. 1), while
past-month inhalant use was reported by 1 percent (Fig. 2).

•Twenty percent of BISD students reported using marijuana at least once during their
lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 5 percent said they had used marijuana during the past
month (Fig. 2).

•Balmorhea ISD students are most likely to turn to friends for help with a drug or
alcohol problem (73 percent) and least likely to consult a medical doctor (36
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 Balmorhea ISD students is somewhat lower than that reported by their
counterparts statewide.

Fifty-two percent of Balmorhea students reported general tobacco use at least once during their
lifetimes (55 percent statewide) (Fig. 1).3 Twelve* percent of Balmorhea ISD students said
they had used a tobacco product during the past month, a rate lower than that reported by their
peers statewide (24 percent) (Fig. 2).

Forty-seven percent of Balmorhea students reported smoking cigarettes at least once during
their lifetimes (52 percent statewide). Eight* percent of BISD students said they had smoked
cigarettes during the past month, a rate lower than that reported by their counterparts statewide
(22 percent). Smoking cigarettes on a daily basis was reported by 2 percent of district students
(7 percent statewide), while 11 percent said most or all of their close friends smoke cigarettes
(19 percent statewide).

Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 28 percent of BISD students (17
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 2 percent of district students (2 percent statewide), and 8 percent said most or all of
their close friends use smokeless tobacco (5 percent).

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

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Alcohol

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

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

The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by Balmorhea students are beer (58 percent/59
percent statewide) and wine coolers (59 percent/61 percent statewide). Thirty-eight percent of
BISD students said they drink beer on a weekly or monthly basis (37 percent statewide), and 24
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-eight percent of Balmorhea ISD students reported "binge
drinking" beer at least once during the past year (39 percent statewide), while 28 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 46 percent of BISD
students (41 percent statewide), while 27 percent said they usually drink five or more wine
coolers at a time on average when they drink (19 percent statewide).

Eight percent of Balmorhea students reported attending at least one class during the past school
year while "drunk" (10 percent statewide) (Fig. 9). Twenty-four percent of BISD 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 5 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-six percent of Balmorhea ISD students said beer, wine, wine coolers, or liquor
were somewhat easy or very easy to obtain (77 percent statewide). Forty-seven percent of
district students reported most or all of their close friends drink alcohol (40 percent statewide),
and 46 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 9 percent of BISD students (10 percent statewide).

Forty percent of Balmorhea 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-one percent of district
students responded "at parties" when asked where they obtained alcohol most of the time or

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always (44 percent statewide), while 18 percent of BISD 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 BISD students who had not been absent since the Fall
reported having used alcohol during the past month (12 percent/26 percent statewide) than did
district students who said they had missed four or more days of school (40 percent/47 percent
statewide). Seventy-one* 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, 20* 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, 76 percent of Balmorhea
students said their parents strongly or mildly disapprove (75 percent statewide). Eight percent
of district students said they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age drinking
beer (10 percent statewide), and 9 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, Balmorhea ISD students are
using inhalants at rates similar to those reported by their counterparts statewide.

Eighteen percent of Balmorhea students reported using inhalants at least once during their
lifetimes (19 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). One percent of Balmorhea ISD students said they had
used inhalants during the past month (5 percent statewide) (Fig. 2).

Two percent of BISD 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). Twelve percent of BISD students said they had
used two or more different kinds of inhalant substances during their lifetimes (12 percent
statewide).

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.

4
The inhalant substance most frequently used by Balmorhea students was correction fluid/Liquid
Paper (13 percent/10 percent statewide). Eight percent of district students said they had inhaled
liquid/spray paint (7 percent statewide), 7 percent reported inhaling gasoline (6 percent
statewide), 5 percent said they had inhaled glue (6 percent statewide), 5 percent reported
inhaling substances in the "other sprays" category (4 percent statewide), and 3 percent reported
inhaling substances in the "other inhalants" category (8 percent statewide) at least once during
their lifetimes (Fig. 7).

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 Balmorhea ISD, 22 percent of students reported use of illicit drugs at least once during
their lifetimes (28 percent statewide), while 16 percent of BISD 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. Balmorhea students reported average usage rates of 0 times in
the past month and 1.8 times during their lifetimes.

Twenty percent of BISD students reported using marijuana at least once in their lifetimes (25
percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Past-month marijuana use was reported by 5 percent of Balmorhea
ISD students (12 percent statewide) (Fig. 2).

Four percent of BISD 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 6 percent of Balmorhea ISD 9th through 12th
grade students (8 percent statewide).

Forty-four percent of BISD 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). Four 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). Twelve
percent of Balmorhea 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, Balmorhea students reported a
disapproval rate of 85 percent (87 percent statewide). Eight percent of district students said
they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age using marijuana (8 percent

5
statewide), while 3 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (4 percent
statewide) (Fig. 15).

Powdered cocaine is the next most frequently used illicit substance among Balmorhea ISD
students (7 percent/5 percent statewide). Two percent of BISD students said they had used
steroids (2 percent statewide), 1* percent reported using uppers (7 percent statewide), 1 percent
said they had used hallucinogens (6 percent statewide), 1 percent reported using downers (5
percent statewide), 1 percent reported using crack (2 percent statewide), and 1 percent reported
using ecstasy (3 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
Balmorhea ISD, male students were somewhat more likely to report marijuana use and more
than three times as likely to report powdered cocaine use than were district female students, and
district males were the only students to report uppers or ecstasy use. BISD females, on the
other hand, were more than three times as likely to report inhalants use than were district male
students, and females were the only district students to report crack, hallucinogens, or downers
use. There were no other significant differences by gender among BISD students with regard to
tobacco, alcohol, or steroids use.

Statewide, students making A and B grades reported lower drug use than did students making
C, D, and F grades. In the Balmorhea ISD, students reporting lower grades were more than
twice as likely to report inhalants or marijuana use and more than three times as likely to report
powdered cocaine use than were those students making A and B grades, and those reporting
lower grades were the only students to report crack, hallucinogens, uppers, downers, steroids, or
ecstasy use. There were no other significant differences by grade average among BISD students
with regard to tobacco or alcohol use.

In the statewide survey, students living in two-parent homes reported lower drug use than did
students living in other family situations. BISD students living in other family situations were
somewhat more likely to report alcohol or inhalants use, nearly twice as likely to report tobacco
use, more than twice as likely to report powdered cocaine use, and more than three times as
likely to report marijuana use than were those district students living in homes with two parents,
and those living in other family situations were the only students to report crack, hallucinogens,
uppers, downers, steroids, or ecstasy use.

When asked where they would go for help with a drug or alcohol problem, the largest
percentage of Balmorhea students said they would seek help from their friends (73 percent/74
percent statewide). Sixty-five percent of BISD students said they would seek help from an
adult friend or relative (57 percent statewide), and 63 percent said they would turn to their
parents (54 percent statewide). District students are least likely to seek help from a medical

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doctor (36 percent/38 percent statewide) (Fig. 17). Since school began in the Fall, 11 percent of
Balmorhea students reported seeking help for any problems connected with alcohol or drug use
from someone other than family or friends (7 percent statewide).

Ninety-one* percent of Balmorhea 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 63 percent of district students as a source for this
information (53 percent statewide), while 61* percent said a "health class" was a source for
information about drugs and alcohol (46 percent statewide). Sixty percent of BISD students
reported getting information about drugs and alcohol from an "invited school guest" (46 percent
statewide).

The influence of drug education programs may be reflected in students' attitudes toward the use
of specific substances. Ninety-eight percent of Balmorhea students believe that crack use is
"very dangerous" (91 percent statewide), and 95 percent believe that powdered cocaine use is
"very dangerous" (90 percent statewide). Eighty-seven percent of BISD students believe that
inhalant use is "very dangerous" (77 percent statewide), and 87* percent believe that marijuana
use is "very dangerous" (67 percent statewide). By contrast, the perceived danger of alcohol
and tobacco use is lower. Only 39 percent of BISD students feel that it is "very dangerous" to
use alcohol (46 percent statewide), while 22* percent believe that tobacco use is "very
dangerous" (41 percent statewide) (Fig. 13).