TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE

KENNEDALE ISD

SECONDARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

OVERVIEW

In the Spring of 1995, 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 grade 9 in the Kennedale
Independent School District (KISD). A total of 139 students completed the
questionnaire, which asked about students experiences with alcohol and
drugs. Of that number, 7 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 132.1

Students' responses to the questionnaire indicate that:

•Sixty percent of Kennedale ISD students reported using tobacco at

least once during their lifetimes, and 24 percent said they had
used tobacco during the past month.

•Seven percent of Kennedale ISD students said they smoke

cigarettes on a daily basis, while 2 percent reported using a
smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis.

•Seventy-six percent of Kennedale ISD students said they had used

alcohol at least once during their lifetimes, and 32 percent
reported using alcohol during the past month.

•Four percent of Kennedale ISD students reported attending at least

one class during the past year while "drunk," and 1 percent of
district 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.

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•Lifetime use of inhalants was reported by 22 percent of district
students, while past-month inhalant use was reported by 2
percent.

•Twenty-five percent of Kennedale ISD students reported using

marijuana at least once during their lifetimes, and 10 percent
said they had used marijuana during the past month.

•Kennedale ISD students are most likely to turn to friends for help
with a drug or alcohol problem (77 percent) and least likely to
consult another adult in school, such as a teacher or nurse (24
percent).

Tobacco

Between 1992 and 1994, the general use of tobacco (including cigarettes
and smokeless products) among students statewide stayed much the
same.2 Overall, the general use of tobacco products among Kennedale ISD
9th grade students is similar to that reported by their 9th grade
counterparts statewide.

Sixty percent of Kennedale students reported general tobacco use at least

once during their lifetimes (57 percent statewide). 3 Twenty-four percent of
Kennedale ISD students said they had used a tobacco product during the
past month (26 percent statewide).

Fifty-five percent of Kennedale ISD students reported smoking cigarettes at

least once during their lifetimes (55 percent statewide), and 21 percent
said they had smoked cigarettes during the past month (24 percent
statewide). Smoking cigarettes on a daily basis was reported by 7 percent
of district students (7 percent statewide), while 23 percent said most or all
of their close friends smoke cigarettes.4

2
Statewide data is collected every other year. The statewide data used for comparison purposes in the
district report and executive summary is taken from the results of the survey administered in 1994.

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

4
Because a non-standard grade combination was surveyed in this district, some statewide data are
unavailable for comparisons throughout this summary.

2
Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 15 percent of
KISD students (16 percent statewide), while 6 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 (1 percent statewide), and 6 percent said most
or all of their close friends use smokeless tobacco.

Alcohol

Alcohol is the most widely used substance among students statewide and
in the Kennedale ISD. Alcohol use among secondary students in 1994 was
similar to that reported in 1992. Overall, Kennedale ISD 9th grade
students are drinking alcohol at rates somewhat similar to those reported
by their 9th grade peers statewide.

Seventy-six percent of Kennedale students reported consuming alcohol at

least once during their lifetimes, the same rate reported by 9th grade
students statewide. Thirty-two percent of Kennedale ISD students said
they had consumed alcohol during the past month, a rate somewhat lower
than that reported by their counterparts statewide (41 percent).

The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by Kennedale students are

wine coolers (59 percent/61 percent statewide) and beer (56 percent/62
percent statewide). Twenty-two percent of KISD students said they drink
beer on a weekly or monthly basis (40 percent statewide), and 20 percent
said they drink wine coolers weekly or monthly (36 percent statewide),
rates lower than those reported by 9th grade students statewide.

"Binge drinking" is the consumption of five or more beers, wine coolers,

servings of wine, or drinks with liquor at one time. Thirty-seven percent of
Kennedale ISD students reported "binge drinking" beer at least once during
the past year (41 percent statewide), while 16 percent said they usually
drink five or more beers at a time on average when they drink (21 percent
statewide). Past-year "binge drinking" of wine coolers was reported by 40
percent of KISD students (43 percent statewide), and 18 percent said they
usually drink five or more wine coolers at a time on average when they
drink (21 percent statewide).

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Four percent of Kennedale students reported attending at least one class
during the past school year while "drunk," a rate somewhat lower than that
reported by 9th grade students statewide (10 percent). One percent of
KISD students said that they had driven a car after having "a good bit to
drink" at least once during the past year, a rate somewhat lower than that
reported by their counterparts statewide (9 percent). Driving while
intoxicated four or more times during the past year was reported by 1
percent of district students (2 percent statewide).

Students were asked about the availability of alcohol, its use among
friends, and its use at parties. Eighty-two percent of Kennedale ISD
students said beer, wine, wine coolers, or liquor were somewhat easy or
very easy to obtain (77 percent statewide). Twenty-nine percent of district
students reported most or all of their close friends drink alcohol, a rate
lower than that reported by 9th grade students statewide (40 percent).
Thirty-five percent of Kennedale students responded "from friends" when
asked where they obtained alcohol most of the time or always. "Difficulties
of any kind" with friends because of one's own drinking was reported by 6
percent of KISD students (9 percent statewide).

Twenty-three percent of Kennedale 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 students statewide (39 percent). Thirty-five percent of
district students responded "at parties" when asked where they obtain
alcohol most of the time or always, while 12 percent of KISD students said
they get alcohol "from the store" most of the time or always.

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 KISD students who had not been absent since the Fall
reported having used alcohol during the past month (4 percent) than did
district students who said they had missed four or more days of school (50
percent). Forty-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. By contrast, only 24 percent of district students
who had not experienced difficulties with school officials because of
conduct problems had used alcohol within the past 30 days.

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, 85 percent of Kennedale students said their parents strongly

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or mildly disapprove, a rate higher than that reported by 9th grade
students statewide (75 percent). Eight percent of district students said
they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age drinking beer
(10 percent statewide). Four percent of KISD students said their parents
neither approve nor disapprove, a rate lower than that reported by their
counterparts statewide (11 percent).

Inhalants5

In general, inhalants are common, licit substances (paints, thinners,

correction fluid, glue, etc.) which, when sniffed, huffed, or inhaled, produce
an intoxicating effect. Between 1992 and 1994, use of inhalants among
students statewide decreased. Overall, Kennedale ISD 9th grade students
are using inhalants at rates somewhat similar to those reported by their
counterparts statewide.

Twenty-two percent of Kennedale students reported using inhalants at

least once during their lifetimes (19 percent statewide). Two percent of
Kennedale ISD students said they had used inhalants during the past
month (5 percent statewide).

Two percent of KISD 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 (4
percent statewide). Twelve percent of KISD 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 Kennedale students were

correction fluid/Liquid Paper (12 percent/10 percent statewide) and those
substances in the "other inhalants" category (11 percent/8 percent
statewide). Eight percent of Kennedale ISD students said they had inhaled
liquid/spray paint (7 percent statewide), 7 percent said they had inhaled
paint thinner (6 percent statewide), and 4 percent said they had inhaled
glue (6 percent statewide) at least once during their lifetimes.

Illicit Drugs
5
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.

5
Illicit drugs are defined as controlled substances and include marijuana,
cocaine (powdered form and crack), uppers (stimulants), downers
(narcotics), hallucinogens, and ecstasy. Between 1992 and 1994, the use
of illicit drugs among students statewide increased. The use of marijuana,
the most frequently used illicit substance, also increased among students
statewide over that two-year period.

In the Kennedale ISD, 28 percent of students reported use of illicit drugs at

least once during their lifetimes (30 percent statewide), while 18 percent of
Kennedale students said they had used one or more illicit substances three
or more times (21 percent statewide), rates similar to those reported by
their peers statewide. Statewide, students who said they had used illicit
drugs reported using them an average of 1.7 times in the past 30 days and
4.6 times during their lives. Kennedale students reported average usage
rates of 1.9 times in the past month and 4.7 times during their lifetimes.

Twenty-five percent of KISD students reported using marijuana at least

once in their lifetimes, a rate similar to that reported by 9th grade students
statewide (28 percent). Past-month marijuana use was reported by 10
percent of Kennedale ISD students (14 percent statewide).

Eight percent of Kennedale students reported attending at least one class

in the past year while "stoned" on marijuana (12 percent statewide).
Driving under the influence of drugs at least once during the past year was
reported by 3 percent of Kennedale ISD students (6 percent statewide).

Sixty-one percent of KISD students said marijuana was somewhat or very

easy to obtain, a rate somewhat higher than that reported by 9th grade
students statewide (52 percent). Nineteen percent of Kennedale students
reported most or all of their close friends use marijuana (21 percent
statewide). Thirteen percent of district students said they had gotten into
"difficulties of any kind" with their friends because of their own drug use, a
rate higher than that reported by 9th grade students statewide (5 percent).
Eighteen percent of the Kennedale ISD students said that marijuana and/or
other drugs were used at most or all of the parties they attended during
the school year (19 percent statewide).

None of the Kennedale ISD students who had not been absent since the
Fall reported having used marijuana during the past month, while 14
percent who said they had missed four or more days of school said they
had smoked marijuana during the past month. Five percent of district

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students who had not gotten into trouble with school officials reported
using marijuana within the past 30 days. By contrast, 28 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.

When asked about parental attitudes toward marijuana use, Kennedale

students reported a disapproval rate of 89 percent (86 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 3
percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (4 percent
statewide).

Uppers are the next most frequently used illicit substance among
Kennedale ISD students (11 percent/8 percent statewide). Eight percent of
KISD students said they had used hallucinogens (6 percent statewide), 8
percent reported using downers (5 percent statewide), 4 percent reported
using ecstasy (2 percent statewide), and 3 percent said they had used
powdered cocaine (6 percent statewide) at least once during their
lifetimes.

CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH DRUG USE

Statewide, female students were less likely to have used drugs than were
male students. In the Kennedale ISD, however, female students were
nearly twice as likely to have used uppers and over two times more likely
to have used hallucinogens than were district male students, and females
were the only reported users of crack in the district. On the other hand,
KISD male students were the only reported users of steroids in the district.
There were no significant differences by gender among KISD students with
regard to the use of tobacco products, alcohol, inhalants, or other illicit
drugs.

In the statewide survey, students living in two-parent homes reported

lower drug use than did students living in other family situations. KISD
students living in other family situations were nearly twice as likely to have
smoked marijuana or used hallucinogens than were those district students
living in homes with two parents, and those students living in other family
situations were also the only reported users of crack in the district. There
were no significant differences by living arrangement among Kennedale
ISD students with regard to the use of tobacco products, alcohol, inhalants,
or other illegal substances.

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When asked where they would go for help with a drug or alcohol problem,
the largest percentage of Kennedale students said they would seek help
from their friends (77 percent/74 percent statewide). Fifty-nine percent of
KISD students said they would seek help from an adult friend or relative
(58 percent statewide), and 50 percent said they would turn to their
parents (51 percent statewide). District students are least likely to seek
help from another adult in school, such as a teacher or nurse (24
percent/33 percent statewide). Since school began in the Fall, 3 percent of
Kennedale students reported seeking help for any problems connected
with alcohol or drug use from someone other than family or friends (7
percent statewide).

Seventy-five percent of Kennedale ISD students said they had gotten

information about drugs and alcohol from a school source since classes
began in the Fall (80 percent statewide). "An assembly program" was
reported by 39 percent of district students as a source for information
about drugs and alcohol (53 percent statewide), while 29 percent said "an
invited school guest" was a source for this information (45 percent
statewide), rates lower than those reported by students statewide. Forty-
nine percent of KISD students reported getting information about drugs
and alcohol from a "health class" (45 percent statewide).

The influence of drug education programs may be reflected in students'

attitudes toward the use of specific substances. Ninety percent of
Kennedale students believe that crack use is "very dangerous" (90 percent
statewide), and 88 percent believe that powdered cocaine use is "very
dangerous" (88 percent statewide). Seventy-four percent of KISD students
believe that inhalant use is "very dangerous" (76 percent statewide), and
59 percent believe that marijuana use is "very dangerous" (63 percent
statewide). By contrast, the perceived danger of alcohol and tobacco use
is lower. Only 41 percent of KISD students feel that it is "very dangerous"
to use alcohol (42 percent statewide), while 41 percent believe that
tobacco use is "very dangerous" (38 percent statewide).