TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE

RAINS 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 Rains Independent School District (RISD). A total of
543 students completed the questionnaire, which asked about students' experiences with alcohol
and drugs. Of that number, 31 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 512.1

Students' responses to the questionnaire indicate that:

•Fifty-six percent of Rains ISD students reported using tobacco at least once during their
lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 25 percent said they had used tobacco during the past
month (Fig. 2).

•Eleven percent of RISD students said they smoke cigarettes on a daily basis, while 6*
percent reported using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis.2

•Seventy percent of Rains ISD students said they had used alcohol at least once during
their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 32* percent reported using alcohol during the past
month (Fig. 2).

•Eight percent of RISD students reported attending at least one class during the past
year while "drunk," and 19 percent of district 9th through 12th grade students

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.

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 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 20 percent of district students (Fig. 1), while
past-month inhalant use was reported by 4 percent (Fig. 2).

•Sixteen* percent of RISD students reported using marijuana at least once during their
lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 4* percent said they had used marijuana during the past
month (Fig. 2).

•Rains ISD students are most likely to turn to friends for help with a drug or alcohol
problem (75 percent) and least likely to consult another adult in school, such as a
nurse or teacher (31 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 Rains ISD students is similar to that reported by their counterparts
statewide.

Fifty-six percent of Rains students reported general tobacco use at least once during their
lifetimes (55 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Lifetime tobacco use was reported by 43 percent of
district 7th and 8th graders (46 percent statewide) and 65 percent of RISD 9th through 12th
graders (60 percent statewide).

Twenty-five percent of Rains ISD students said they had used a tobacco product during the past
month (24 percent statewide) (Fig. 2). Current general tobacco use was reported by 17 percent
of RISD 7th and 8th grade students (20 percent statewide) and 30 percent of district 9th through
12th grade students (27 percent statewide).

Fifty-one percent of Rains students reported smoking cigarettes at least once during their
lifetimes (52 percent statewide), and 18 percent said they had smoked cigarettes during the past
month (22 percent statewide). Smoking cigarettes on a daily basis was reported by 11 percent
of district students (7 percent statewide). Daily use of cigarettes was reported by 6 percent of
Rains 7th and 8th grade students (4 percent statewide) and 14 percent of district 9th through
12th grade students (9 percent statewide). Sixteen percent of RISD students said most or all of
their close friends smoke cigarettes (19 percent statewide).

Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 34* percent of RISD students (17
percent statewide), while 13* 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 6* percent of district students (2 percent statewide), and 15* percent said most or all

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of their close friends use smokeless tobacco (5 percent statewide), rates higher than those
reported by their counterparts statewide.

Alcohol

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

Seventy percent of Rains students reported consuming alcohol at least once during their
lifetimes (74 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Lifetime alcohol use was reported by 56 percent of
RISD 7th and 8th graders (63 percent statewide) and 80 percent of district 9th through 12th
graders (81 percent statewide) (Fig. 3).

Thirty-two* percent of Rains ISD students said they had consumed alcohol during the past
month, compared to 39 percent of students statewide (Fig. 2). Current alcohol use was reported
by 20* percent of district 7th and 8th grade students, a rate lower than that reported by their
peers statewide (29 percent). Forty-two percent of RISD 9th through 12th grade students said
they had consumed alcohol during the past month (46 percent statewide) (Fig. 4).

The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by Rains students are beer (56 percent/59 percent
statewide) and wine coolers (56 percent/61 percent statewide). Thirty-three percent of RISD
students said they drink beer on a weekly or monthly basis (37 percent statewide), and 28
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-six percent of Rains ISD students reported "binge
drinking" beer at least once during the past year (39 percent statewide), while 24 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 41 percent of RISD
students (41 percent statewide), while 20 percent said they usually drink five or more wine
coolers at a time on average when they drink (19 percent statewide).

Eight percent of Rains students reported attending at least one class during the past school year
while "drunk" (10 percent statewide). Class attendance while intoxicated was reported by 6
percent of RISD 7th and 8th graders (9 percent statewide) and 9 percent of district 9th through
12th graders (10 percent statewide) (Fig. 9).

Nineteen percent of RISD 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 7 percent of district
9th through 12th graders (4 percent statewide) (Fig. 11).

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Students were asked about the availability of alcohol, its use among friends, and its use at
parties. Seventy-four percent of Rains ISD students said beer, wine, wine coolers, or liquor
were somewhat easy or very easy to obtain (77 percent statewide). Thirty-two* percent of
district students reported most or all of their close friends drink alcohol (40 percent statewide),
and 36 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 10 percent of RISD students (10 percent statewide).

Thirty percent of Rains students said alcohol was used at most or all of the parties they attended
in the past school year (39 percent statewide). Alcohol use at most or all parties was reported
by 13 percent of district 7th and 8th graders (19 percent statewide) and 57 percent of RISD 9th
through 12th graders (51 percent statewide) (Fig. 12). Thirty-nine percent of district students
responded "at parties" when asked where they obtained alcohol most of the time or always (44
percent statewide), while 13* percent of RISD 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 RISD students who had not been absent since the Fall
reported having used alcohol during the past month (30 percent/26 percent statewide) than did
district students who said they had missed four or more days of school (39 percent/47 percent
statewide). Fifty-two* 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, 22* 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, 75 percent of Rains 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 11 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (11 percent
statewide) (Fig. 15).

Inhalants3

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 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, Rains ISD students are using
inhalants at rates similar to those reported by their counterparts statewide.

Twenty percent of Rains students reported using inhalants at least once during their lifetimes
(19 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Lifetime inhalant use was reported by 17 percent of district 7th
and 8th graders (22 percent statewide) and 22 percent of RISD 9th through 12th graders (17
percent statewide) (Figs. 5a and 5b).

Four percent of Rains ISD students said they had used inhalants during the past month (5
percent statewide) (Fig. 2). Current inhalant use was reported by 3 percent of district 7th and
8th grade students (7 percent statewide) and 4 percent of RISD 9th through 12th grade students
(4 percent statewide) (Figs. 6a & 6b).

None of the RISD 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). Fourteen percent of RISD 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 Rains students was correction fluid/Liquid
Paper (12 percent/10 percent statewide). Ten* percent of district students said they had inhaled
paint thinner (6 percent statewide), 9 percent reported inhaling gasoline (6 percent statewide), 9
percent said they had inhaled liquid/spray paint (7 percent statewide), and 8 percent said they
had inhaled glue (6 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.

In the Rains ISD, 17* percent of students reported use of illicit drugs at least once during their
lifetimes (28 percent statewide), while 10* percent of RISD students said they had used one or
more illicit substances three or more times (19 percent statewide), rates lower than those
reported by their peers 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.
Rains students reported average usage rates of 0 times in the past month and 2.5 times during
their lifetimes.

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Sixteen* percent of RISD students reported using marijuana at least once in their lifetimes,
compared to 25 percent of students statewide (Fig. 1). Lifetime marijuana use was reported by
7* percent of Rains 7th and 8th grade students (17 percent statewide) and 22* percent of district
9th through 12th grade students (31 percent statewide), rates lower than those reported by
students statewide (Figs. 5a & 5b).

Past-month marijuana use was reported by 4* percent of Rains ISD students (12 percent
statewide) (Fig. 2). Current marijuana use was reported by 4 percent of district 7th and 8th
graders (8 percent statewide) and 5* percent of RISD 9th through 12th graders (14 percent
statewide) (Figs. 6a & 6b).

Four* percent of RISD students reported attending at least one class in the past year while
"stoned" on marijuana (9 percent statewide). Class attendance while "stoned" was reported by 3
percent of Rains 7th and 8th graders (7 percent statewide) and 5* percent of district 9th through
12th graders (11 percent statewide) (Fig. 10). Driving under the influence of drugs at least once
during the past year was reported by 10 percent of Rains ISD 9th through 12th grade students (8
percent statewide).

Twenty-nine* percent of RISD students said marijuana was somewhat or very easy to obtain
(48 percent statewide), and 5* percent reported most or all of their close friends use marijuana
(17 percent statewide), rates lower than those reported by their peers 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).

Eight* percent of Rains 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). Marijuana
and/or other drug use at most or all parties was reported by 4 percent of district 7th and 8th
grade students (9 percent statewide) and 10* percent of RISD 9th through 12th grade students
(22 percent statewide), rates somewhat lower than those reported by their peers statewide.

When asked about parental attitudes toward marijuana use, Rains students reported a
disapproval rate of 89 percent (87 percent statewide). Five 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) (Fig.
15).

Uppers are the next most frequently used illicit substance among Rains ISD students (6
percent/7 percent statewide). Reported use of uppers was highest among district 9th through
12th grade students (9 percent/9 percent statewide). Four percent of district students reported
using downers (5 percent statewide), 3 percent said they had used hallucinogens (6 percent
statewide), 3 percent said they had used powdered cocaine (5 percent statewide), and 2 percent
reported using crack (2 percent statewide) at least once during their lifetimes (Fig. 1).

CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH DRUG USE

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Statewide, female students were less likely to have used drugs than were male students. In the
Rains ISD, male students were somewhat more likely to have used tobacco and nearly two
times more likely to have used inhalants than were district female students. There were no
significant differences by gender among RISD students with regard to alcohol or other illicit
substance use.

In the statewide survey, students living in two-parent homes reported lower drug use than did
students living in other family situations. RISD students living in other family situations were
somewhat more likely to have used inhalants and two times more likely to have used marijuana
than were those district students living in homes with two parents. There were no significant
differences by living arrangement among Rains ISD students with regard to tobacco, alcohol, or
other illegal drug use.

When asked where they would go for help with a drug or alcohol problem, the largest
percentage of Rains students said they would seek help from their friends (75 percent/74
percent statewide). Fifty-three percent of RISD students said they would seek help from an
adult friend or relative (57 percent statewide), and 54 percent said they would turn to their
parents (54 percent statewide). District students are least likely to seek help from another adult
in school, such as a teacher or nurse (32 percent/33 percent statewide) (Fig. 17). Since school
began in the Fall, 6 percent of Rains students reported seeking help for any problems connected
with alcohol or drug use from someone other than family or friends (7 percent statewide).

Eighty-four percent of Rains 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 66* percent of district students as a source for this
information (53 percent statewide), while 61* percent said "an invited school guest" was a
source for information about drugs and alcohol (46 percent statewide). Forty-eight percent of
RISD 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-three percent of Rains students believe that crack use is "very
dangerous" (91 percent statewide), and 93 percent believe that powdered cocaine use is "very
dangerous" (90 percent statewide). Eighty-three percent of RISD students believe that inhalant
use is "very dangerous" (77 percent statewide), and 85* percent believe that marijuana use is
"very dangerous" (67 percent statewide). By contrast, the perceived danger of alcohol and
tobacco use is lower. Only 61* percent of RISD students feel that it is "very dangerous" to use
alcohol (46 percent statewide), while 42 percent believe that tobacco use is "very dangerous"
(41 percent statewide) (Fig. 13).