TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE

WELLINGTON 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 Wellington Independent School District (WISD). A total
of 262 students completed the questionnaire, which asked about students' experiences with
alcohol and drugs. Of that number, 12 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 250.1

Students' responses to the questionnaire indicate that:

•Fifty-nine percent of Wellington 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).

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

•Sixty-nine percent of Wellington ISD students said they had used alcohol at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 42 percent reported using alcohol during the past
month (Fig. 2).

•Nine percent of WISD students reported attending at least one class during the past year
while "drunk," and 31 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 12 percent of district students (Fig. 1), while
past-month inhalant use was reported by 1* percent (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

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•Fifteen* percent of WISD students reported using marijuana at least once during their
lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 7 percent said they had used marijuana during the past month
(Fig. 2).

•Wellington ISD students are most likely to turn to friends for help with a drug or alcohol
problem (79 percent) and least likely to consult another adult in school, such as a
teacher or nurse (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 Wellington ISD students is similar to that reported by their
counterparts statewide.

Fifty-nine percent of Wellington students reported general tobacco use at least once during their
lifetimes (55 percent statewide) (Fig. 1).3 Thirty-two percent of Wellington ISD students said
they had used a tobacco product during the past month (24 percent statewide) (Fig. 2).

Fifty-six percent of Wellington students reported smoking cigarettes at least once during their
lifetimes (52 percent statewide), while 29 percent said they had smoked cigarettes during the
past month (22 percent statewide). Smoking cigarettes on a daily basis was reported by 10
percent of district students (7 percent statewide), while 20 percent said most or all of their close
friends smoke cigarettes (19 percent statewide).

Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 24 percent of WISD students (17
percent statewide), while 8 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 3 percent said most or all of
their close friends use smokeless tobacco (5 percent).

Alcohol

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

are not marked may be important, but should be treated with more caution than those that are statistically
significant.

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

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Sixty-nine percent of Wellington students reported consuming alcohol at least once during their
lifetimes (74 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Forty-two percent of Wellington ISD students said
they had consumed alcohol during the past month (39 percent statewide) (Fig. 2).

The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by Wellington students are beer (64 percent/59
percent statewide) and wine coolers (57 percent/61 percent statewide). Forty-four percent of
WISD students said they drink beer on a weekly or monthly basis (37 percent statewide), and
32 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. Forty-six percent of Wellington ISD students reported "binge
drinking" beer at least once during the past year (39 percent statewide), while 33* 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 42 percent of WISD
students (41 percent statewide), while 24 percent said they usually drink five or more wine
coolers at a time on average when they drink (19 percent statewide).

Nine percent of Wellington students reported attending at least one class during the past school
year while "drunk" (10 percent statewide) (Fig. 9). Thirty-one* percent of WISD 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, compared to 15 percent of students statewide. Driving while
intoxicated four or more times during the past year was reported by 8 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-five percent of Wellington ISD students said beer, wine, wine coolers, or
liquor were somewhat easy or very easy to obtain (77 percent statewide). Forty-four percent of
district students reported most or all of their close friends drink alcohol (40 percent statewide),
and 49 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 WISD students (10 percent statewide).

Forty-three percent of Wellington students said alcohol was used at most or all of the parties
they attended in the past school year (39 percent statewide) (Fig. 12). Forty-five percent of
district students responded "at parties" when asked where they obtained alcohol most of the
time or always (44 percent statewide), while 18 percent of WISD 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 WISD students who had not been absent since the Fall
reported having used alcohol during the past month (33 percent/26 percent statewide) than did
district students who said they had missed four or more days of school (49 percent/47 percent
statewide). Sixty-eight 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

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statewide). By contrast, 28 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, 81 percent of Wellington
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 7 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, Wellington ISD students are
using inhalants at rates lower than those reported by their counterparts statewide.

Twelve percent of Wellington students reported using inhalants at least once during their
lifetimes (19 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). One* percent of Wellington ISD students said they
had used inhalants during the past month, a rate lower than that reported by their peers
statewide (5 percent) (Fig. 2).

No WISD students reported that most or all of their close friends use inhalants (3 percent
statewide), but 1 percent said they had attended at least one class during the past school year
while "high" on inhalants (3 percent statewide). Eight percent of WISD 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 Wellington students were correction
fluid/Liquid Paper (7 percent/10 percent statewide) and gasoline (7 percent/6 percent
statewide). Four percent of district students said they had inhaled liquid/spray paint (7 percent
statewide), 4 percent reported inhaling substances in the "other inhalants" category (8 percent
statewide), 3 percent said they had inhaled paint thinner (6 percent statewide), and 2 percent
reported inhaling substances in the "other sprays" category (4 percent statewide) at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 7).

Illicit Drugs

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.

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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 Wellington ISD, 17* percent of students reported use of illicit drugs at least once during
their lifetimes (28 percent statewide), while 12* percent of WISD students said they had used
one or more illicit substances three or more times (19 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 1.4 times in the past 30 days and 4.2 times during their
lives. Wellington students reported average usage rates of 0.5 times in the past month and 1.8
times during their lifetimes.

Fifteen* percent of WISD students reported using marijuana at least once in their lifetimes,
compared to 25 percent of students statewide (Fig. 1). Past-month marijuana use was reported
by 7 percent of Wellington ISD students (12 percent statewide) (Fig. 2).

Six percent of WISD 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 10 percent Wellington ISD 9th through 12th
grade students (8 percent statewide).

Thirty-eight* percent of WISD students said marijuana was somewhat or very easy to obtain
(48 percent statewide), and 6* percent reported most or all of their close friends use marijuana
(17 percent statewide), rates lower than those reported by students statewide. Two 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).

Eleven* percent of Wellington ISD students said that marijuana and/or other drugs were used at
most or all of the parties they attended during the school year, compared to 17 percent of their
counterparts statewide.

Fewer Wellington ISD students who had not been absent since the Fall reported having used
marijuana during the past month (8 percent/6 percent statewide) than did district students who
said they had missed four or more days of school (9 percent/15 percent statewide). Two percent
of district students who had not gotten into trouble with school officials reported using
marijuana within the past 30 days (4 percent statewide). By contrast, 24 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 (31 percent statewide).

When asked about parental attitudes toward marijuana use, Wellington students reported a
disapproval rate of 89 percent (87 percent statewide). Seven percent of district students said
they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age using marijuana (8 percent

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statewide), while 2 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (4 percent
statewide) (Fig. 15).

Uppers are the next most frequently used illicit substance among Wellington ISD students (5
percent/7 percent statewide). Three percent of WISD students said they had used powdered
cocaine (5 percent statewide), 1* percent reported using downers (5 percent statewide), and 1
percent reported using crack (2 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
Wellington ISD, male students were somewhat more likely to have used marijuana than were
district female students. WISD male students were also the only reported users of crack,
hallucinogens, steroids, or ecstasy. There were no other significant differences by gender
among WISD students with regard to tobacco, inhalants, or other illicit drug use.

When asked where they would go for help with a drug or alcohol problem, the largest
percentage of Wellington students said they would seek help from their friends (79 percent/74
percent statewide). Fifty-seven percent of WISD students said they would seek help from an
adult friend or relative (57 percent statewide), and 51 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 (31 percent/33 percent statewide) (Fig. 17). Since school
began in the Fall, 5 percent of Wellington students reported seeking help for any problems
connected with alcohol or drug use from someone other than family or friends (7 percent
statewide).

Eighty-nine* percent of Wellington 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 78* percent of district students as a source for this
information (53 percent statewide), while 76* percent said "an invited school guest" was a
source for information about drugs and alcohol (46 percent statewide). Thirty-nine percent of
WISD 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 percent of Wellington students believe that crack use is "very
dangerous" (91 percent statewide), and 94 percent believe that powdered cocaine use is "very
dangerous" (90 percent statewide). Seventy-nine percent of WISD students believe that
inhalant use is "very dangerous" (77 percent statewide), and 83* percent believe that marijuana
use is "very dangerous" (67 percent statewide). By contrast, the perceived danger of alcohol
and tobacco use is lower. Only 56* percent of WISD students feel that it is "very dangerous" to
use alcohol (46 percent statewide), while 49 percent believe that tobacco use is "very
dangerous" (41 percent statewide) (Fig. 13).

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