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TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE

GOLDTHWAITE ISD

SECONDARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

OVERVIEW

In the Spring of 1996, 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 Goldthwaite Independent School District (GISD). A total of 225
students completed the questionnaire, which asked about students' experiences with alcohol and
drugs. Of that number, 8 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 217.1

Students' responses to the questionnaire indicate that:

• Sixty-two percent of Goldthwaite ISD students reported using tobacco at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 32 percent said they had used tobacco during
the past month (Fig. 2).

• Seven percent of Goldthwaite ISD students said they smoke cigarettes on a daily
basis, while 4 percent reported using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily
basis.

• Seventy-five percent of Goldthwaite ISD students said they had used alcohol at least
once during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 51* percent reported using alcohol during
the past month (Fig. 2).2

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 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.

1
• Twenty percent of Goldthwaite ISD 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"
(Fig. 11).

• Lifetime use of inhalants was reported by 10* percent of Goldthwaite ISD students
(Fig. 1), while past-month inhalant use was reported by 4 percent (Fig. 2).

• Sixteen* percent of Goldthwaite ISD 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).

• Goldthwaite ISD students are most likely to turn to friends for help with a drug or
alcohol problem (78 percent) and least likely to consult a counselor or program in
school (25 percent) (Fig. 17).

Tobacco

Over the last two years, the general use of tobacco (including cigarettes and smokeless products)
among students statewide has increased slightly.3 Overall, the general use of tobacco products
among Goldthwaite ISD students, especially with regard to the smokeless variety, is somewhat
higher than that reported by their counterparts statewide.

Sixty-two percent of Goldthwaite students reported general tobacco use at least once during
their lifetimes (55 percent statewide) (Fig. 1).4 Thirty-two percent of Goldthwaite ISD students
said they had used a tobacco product during the past month (26 percent statewide) (Fig. 2).

Fifty-five percent of Goldthwaite students reported smoking cigarettes at least once during their
lifetimes (53 percent statewide), and 28 percent said they had smoked cigarettes during the past
month (25 percent statewide). Smoking cigarettes on a daily basis was reported by 7 percent of
district students (8 percent statewide), while 15 percent said most or all of their close friends
smoke cigarettes (21 percent statewide).

Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 34* percent of GISD students (16
percent statewide), while 12* percent said they had used a smokeless tobacco product during the
past month (5 percent statewide), more than double the rates reported by students statewide.
Using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis was reported by 4 percent of district students
(1 percent statewide), and 7 percent said most or all of their close friends use smokeless tobacco
(5 percent statewide).
3
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 the Spring of 1996.

4
Due to the small number of students surveyed in this district, no between-grade
comparisons can be made.

2
Alcohol

Alcohol is the most widely used substance among students statewide and in the Goldthwaite
ISD. Alcohol use among secondary students statewide has decreased slightly from that reported
two years ago. Overall, Goldthwaite ISD students are drinking alcohol at rates somewhat higher
than those reported by their peers statewide.

Seventy-five percent of Goldthwaite students reported consuming alcohol at least once during
their lifetimes (74 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Fifty-one* percent of Goldthwaite ISD students
said they had consumed alcohol during the past month, a rate higher than that reported by
students statewide (38 percent) (Fig. 2).

The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by Goldthwaite students are beer (62 percent/56
percent statewide) and wine coolers (62 percent/58 percent statewide). Thirty-eight percent of
GISD students said they drink beer on a weekly or monthly basis (33 percent statewide), and 33
percent said they drink wine coolers weekly or monthly (31 percent statewide).

"Binge drinking" is the consumption of five or more beers, wine coolers, servings of wine, or
drinks with liquor at one time. GISD students are "binge drinking" beer and, to a lesser extent,
wine coolers at rates higher than those reported by their counterparts statewide. Forty-six
percent of Goldthwaite ISD students reported "binge drinking" beer at least once during their
lifetimes (37 percent statewide), while 27* percent said they usually drink five or more beers at a
time on average when they drink (19 percent statewide). Lifetime "binge drinking" of wine
coolers was reported by 45 percent of GISD students (40 percent statewide), while 24 percent
said they usually drink five or more wine coolers at a time on average when they drink (18
percent statewide).

Seven percent of Goldthwaite students reported attending at least one class during the past
school year while "drunk" (9 percent statewide) (Fig. 9). Twenty percent of GISD 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 6 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.
Eighty-five* percent of Goldthwaite ISD students said beer, wine, wine coolers, or liquor were
somewhat easy or very easy to obtain, compared to 75 percent of students statewide. Thirty-nine
percent of district students reported most or all of their close friends drink alcohol (37 percent
statewide), and 47 percent responded "from friends" when asked where they obtained alcohol
most of the time or always (39 percent statewide). "Difficulties of any kind" with friends because
of one's own drinking was reported by 8 percent of GISD students (9 percent statewide).

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Fifty* percent of Goldthwaite students said alcohol was used at most or all of the parties they
attended in the past school year, a rate higher than that reported by students statewide (37
percent) (Fig. 13). Forty-seven percent of district students responded "at parties" when asked
where they obtain alcohol most of the time or always (43 percent statewide). Ten* percent of
GISD students said they get alcohol "from the store" most of the time or always, nearly half the
rate reported by students statewide (17 percent).

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 GISD students who had not been absent since the Fall
reported having used alcohol during the past month (44* percent/25 percent statewide) than did
district students who said they had missed four or more days of school (55 percent/44 percent
statewide). Sixty-one percent of the Goldthwaite students who had experienced difficulties with
school officials on four or more days reported using alcohol during the past 30 days (62 percent
statewide). By contrast, only 46* percent of district students who had not experienced
difficulties with school officials because of conduct problems had used alcohol within the past 30
days, in contrast to the 25 percent reported by students 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 Goldthwaite
students said their parents strongly or mildly disapprove (76 percent statewide). Ten percent of
district students said their parents neither approve nor disapprove of kids their age drinking beer
(10 percent statewide), and 9 percent said they "don't know" how their parents feel (9 percent
statewide) (Fig. 15).

Inhalants5

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 has stayed about the same. Overall, Goldthwaite ISD
students are using inhalants at rates lower than those reported by their counterparts statewide.

Ten* percent of Goldthwaite students reported using inhalants at least once during their lifetimes
(20 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Four percent of Goldthwaite ISD students said they had used
inhalants during the past month (5 percent statewide) (Fig. 2).

Two percent of GISD students said they had attended at least one class during the past school
year while "high" on inhalants (4 percent statewide), and 1 percent reported most or all of their
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.

4
close friends use inhalants (3 percent statewide). Six percent of GISD students said they had
used two or more different kinds of inhalant substances during their lifetimes, half the rate
reported by students statewide (12 percent).

The inhalant substance most frequently used by Goldthwaite students was correction fluid/Liquid
Paper (6 percent/9 percent statewide). Five percent of district students said they had inhaled
liquid/spray paint (7 percent statewide), 3* percent reported inhaling substances in the "other
inhalants" category (8 percent statewide), 2 percent said they had inhaled glue (5 percent
statewide), 2 percent reported inhaling gasoline (5 percent statewide), 2 percent reported inhaling
substances in the "other sprays" category (4 percent statewide), and 2 percent said they had
inhaled paint thinner (5 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 Goldthwaite ISD, 19* percent of students reported use of illicit drugs at least once during
their lifetimes (34 percent statewide), while 15* percent of GISD students said they had used one
or more illicit substances three or more times (25 percent statewide), rates lower than those
reported by their counterparts statewide. Statewide, students who said they had used illicit drugs
reported using them an average of 2.2 times in the past 30 days and 6.4 times during their lives.
Goldthwaite students reported average usage rates of 0.6 times in the past month and 3.0 times
during their lifetimes.

Sixteen* percent of GISD students reported using marijuana at least once in their lifetimes, nearly
half the rate reported by their peers statewide (31 percent) (Fig. 1). Past-month marijuana use
was reported by 5* percent of Goldthwaite ISD students, a third of the rate reported by students
statewide (16 percent) (Fig. 2).

Five* percent of GISD students reported attending at least one class in the past year while
"stoned" on marijuana, a rate lower than that reported by students statewide (13 percent) (Fig.
10). Driving under the influence of drugs at least once during the past year was reported by 8
percent of Goldthwaite ISD 9th through 12th grade students (12 percent statewide).

Forty-five percent of GISD students said marijuana was somewhat or very easy to obtain (53
percent statewide). Seven percent of Goldthwaite ISD students reported most or all of their
close friends use marijuana (21 percent statewide), while 6* percent said that marijuana and/or
other drugs were used at most or all of the parties they attended during the school year (23
percent statewide), rates lower than those reported by students statewide. Three percent of

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district students said they had gotten into "difficulties of any kind" with their friends because of
their own drug use (6 percent statewide).

None of the Goldthwaite ISD students who had not been absent since the Fall reported having
used marijuana during the past month (9 percent statewide), while 9 percent of district students
who said they had missed four or more days of school said they had smoked marijuana during the
past month (20 percent statewide). Two percent of Goldthwaite students who had not gotten
into trouble with school officials reported using marijuana within the past 30 days (7 percent
statewide). By contrast, 14 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, compared to 38
percent of students statewide.

When asked about parental attitudes toward marijuana use, Goldthwaite students reported a
disapproval rate of 92* percent, a rate somewhat higher than that reported by students statewide
(85 percent). Six 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. 15).

Other illicit substances are used by a small number of Goldthwaite ISD students. Ten percent of
GISD students reported using uppers (8 percent statewide), 3* percent said they had used
hallucinogens (8 percent statewide), 3 percent said they had used powdered cocaine (7 percent
statewide), 2 percent reported using downers (6 percent statewide), 2 percent reported using
crack (3 percent statewide), 2 percent said they had used steroids (2 percent statewide), and 1*
percent reported using ecstasy (5 percent statewide) at least once during their lifetimes (Fig. 1).

CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH DRUG USE

Statewide, female students were somewhat less likely to have used drugs than were male
students. In the Goldthwaite ISD, male students were somewhat more likely to have used
powdered cocaine or hallucinogens and nearly twice as likely to have used inhalant or smoked
marijuana than were district female students. In addition, GISD male students were the only
reported users of downers in the district. There were no other significant differences by gender
among GISD students with regard to the use of tobacco products, alcohol, or other illicit
substances.

When asked where they would go for help with a drug or alcohol problem, the largest percentage
of Goldthwaite students said they would seek help from their friends (78 percent/74 percent
statewide). Fifty-two percent of GISD students said they would seek help from an adult friend
or relative (58 percent statewide), and 52 percent said they would turn to their parents (54
percent statewide). District students are least likely to seek help from a counselor or program in
school (25* percent), a rate lower than that reported by students statewide (35 percent) (Fig.
17). Since school began in the Fall, 4 percent of Goldthwaite students reported seeking help for
any problems connected with alcohol or drug use from someone other than family or friends (7
percent statewide).

6
Ninety-one* percent of Goldthwaite ISD students said they had gotten information about drugs
and alcohol from a school source since classes began in the Fall, compared to 75 percent of
students statewide. "An assembly program" was reported by 70* percent of district students as a
source for information about drugs and alcohol, a rate considerably higher than that reported by
their counterparts statewide (44 percent). Fifty-six percent of GISD students reported getting
information about drugs and alcohol from a "health class" (46 percent statewide), while 54*
percent said "an invited school guest" was a source for this information (38 percent statewide),
rates higher than those reported by students statewide.

The influence of drug education programs may be reflected in students' attitudes toward the use
of specific substances. Ninety-two percent of Goldthwaite students believe that crack use is
"very dangerous" (88 percent statewide), and 91 percent believe that powdered cocaine use is
"very dangerous" (87 percent statewide). Eighty-two percent of GISD students believe that
inhalant use is "very dangerous" (70 percent statewide), and 73* percent believe that marijuana
use is "very dangerous" (60 percent statewide), rates higher than those reported by students
statewide. By contrast, the perceived danger of alcohol and tobacco use is lower. Only 36
percent of GISD students feel that it is "very dangerous" to use alcohol (44 percent statewide),
while 19* percent believe that tobacco use is "very dangerous" (39 percent statewide), rates
lower than those reported by their counterparts statewide (Fig. 13).

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