TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE

SIVELLS BEND 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 8 in the Sivells Bend Independent School District (SBISD). A total of 11
students completed the questionnaire, which asked about students' experiences with alcohol and
drugs. Since no students were identified as exaggerators, all 11 surveys were included in
analysis.1

Students' responses to the questionnaire indicate that:

•Seventy-three percent of Sivells Bend ISD students reported using tobacco at least once
during their lifetimes, and 27 percent said they had used tobacco during the past
month.

•Nine percent of Sivells Bend ISD students said they smoke cigarettes on a daily basis,
but none of the students reported using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily
basis.

•Eighty-two percent of Sivells Bend ISD students said they had used alcohol at least
once during their lifetimes, and 45 percent reported using alcohol during the past
month.

•Nine percent of Sivells Bend ISD students reported attending at least one class during
the past year while "drunk."

•Lifetime use of inhalants was reported by 9 percent of Sivells Bend ISD students, while
past-month inhalant use was also reported by 9 percent.

•None of the Sivells Bend ISD students reported using marijuana during their lifetimes.

•Sivells Bend ISD students are most likely to turn to friends for help with a drug or
alcohol problem (80 percent) and least likely to consult a counselor or program
in school (27 percent), another adult in school (27 percent), or a counselor or
program outside of school (27 percent) (Fig. 17).

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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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 Sivells Bend ISD 8th grade students is, especially with regard to the use of
cigarettes, somewhat higher than that reported by their 8th grade counterparts statewide.

Seventy-three percent of Sivells Bend students reported general tobacco use at least once during
their lifetimes, compared to 52 percent of 8th graders statewide. Twenty-seven percent of
Sivells Bend ISD students said they had used a tobacco product during the past month (23
percent statewide).

Seventy-three percent of Sivells Bend students reported smoking cigarettes at least once during
their lifetimes, a rate higher than that reported by 8th grade students statewide (50 percent).
Twenty-seven percent of SBISD students said they had smoked cigarettes during the past month
(22 percent statewide). Smoking cigarettes on a daily basis was reported by 9 percent of district
students (5 percent statewide), while 36 percent said most or all of their close friends smoke
cigarettes.3

Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 9 percent of SBISD students, a rate
somewhat lower than that reported by their peers statewide (16 percent statewide). None of
Sivells Bend ISD students said they had used a smokeless tobacco product during the past
month (5 percent statewide) or on a daily basis (1 percent statewide). Twenty-seven percent of
district students 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 Sivells Bend
ISD. Alcohol use among secondary students statewide in 1994 was similar to that reported in
1992. Overall, Sivells Bend ISD 8th grade students are drinking alcohol at rates higher than
those reported by their 8th grade peers statewide.

Eighty-two percent of Sivells Bend students reported consuming alcohol at least once during
their lifetimes, compared to 69 percent of 8th grade students statewide. Forty-five percent of
Sivells Bend ISD students said they had consumed alcohol during the past month, a rate higher
than that reported by 8th grade students statewide (34 percent).

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

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The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by Sivells Bend students are wine coolers (80
percent/53 percent statewide) and beer (73 percent/54 percent statewide), rates higher than those
reported by their counterparts statewide. Fifty percent of SBISD students said they drink wine
coolers weekly or monthly (31 percent statewide), and 45 percent said they drink beer on a
weekly or monthly basis (32 percent statewide), rates also higher than those reported by 8th
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. Past-year "binge drinking" of wine coolers was reported by 60
percent of SBISD students, compared to 35 percent of 8th grade students statewide. Eighteen
percent of district students said they usually drink five or more wine coolers at a time on
average when they drink (18 percent statewide). Fifty percent of Sivells Bend ISD students
reported "binge drinking" beer at least once during the past year (33 percent statewide), while
36 percent said they usually drink five or more beers at a time on average when they drink (16
percent statewide), rates higher than those reported by their peers statewide.

Students were asked about the availability of alcohol, its use at school, its use among friends,
and its use at parties. Seventy-three percent of Sivells Bend ISD students said beer, wine, wine
coolers, or liquor were somewhat easy or very easy to obtain (70 percent statewide). Nine
percent of Sivells Bend students reported attending at least one class during the past school year
while "drunk" (10 percent statewide).

Fifty-five percent of district students reported most or all of their close friends drink alcohol, a
rate higher than that reported by 8th grade students statewide (31 percent). Sixty-four percent
of Sivells Bend 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 9 percent of SBISD students (8 percent statewide).

Forty-five percent of Sivells Bend students said alcohol was used at most or all of the parties
they attended in the past school year, compared to 24 percent of their counterparts statewide.
Sixty-four percent of district students responded "at parties" when asked where they obtain
alcohol most of the time or always, while 27 percent of SBISD 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 SBISD students who had not been absent since the Fall
reported having used alcohol during the past month (50 percent) than did district students who
said they had missed four or more days of school (67 percent). One hundred percent of 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 33 percent of district students who had
not experienced difficulties with school officials because of conduct problems had used alcohol
within the past 30 days.

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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, 64 percent of Sivells Bend
students said their parents strongly or mildly disapprove, a rate lower than that reported by 8th
graders statewide (77 percent). Eighteen percent of district students said they "don't know" how
their parents feel about kids their age drinking beer (11 percent statewide), and 9 percent said
their parents neither approve nor disapprove (8 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. Between 1992 and
1994, use of inhalants among students statewide decreased. Overall, Sivells Bend ISD 8th
grade students are using inhalants at rates somewhat similar to those reported by their 8th grade
counterparts statewide.

Nine percent of Sivells Bend students reported using inhalants at least once during their
lifetimes, compared to 24 percent of 8th grade students statewide. Nine percent of Sivells Bend
ISD students said they had used inhalants during the past month (8 percent statewide) (Fig. 2).

Nine percent of SBISD students reported most or all of their close friends use inhalants (4
percent statewide), and 9 percent said they had attended at least one class during the past school
year while "high" on inhalants (5 percent statewide). Nine percent of SBISD students said they
had used two or more different kinds of inhalant substances during their lifetimes (15 percent
statewide).

Nine percent of Sivells Bend students reported inhaling correction fluid/Liquid Paper (13
percent statewide), 9 percent said they had inhaled glue (8 percent statewide), and 9 percent said
they had inhaled paint thinner (8 percent statewide) at least once during their lifetimes. None of
the district students reported ever inhaling gasoline (8 percent statewide), liquid/spray paint (9
percent statewide), substances in the "other sprays" category (5 percent statewide), or
substances in the "other inhalants" category (11 percent statewide).

Illicit Drugs

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.

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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In the Sivells Bend ISD, 9 percent of students reported use of illicit drugs at least once during
their lifetimes, a rate lower than that reported by 8th grade students statewide (24 percent).
None of the SBISD students said they had used one or more illicit substances three or more
times (15 percent statewide). None of the district students reported ever using marijuana at least
once in their lifetimes (21 percent statewide).

Twenty percent of SBISD students said marijuana was somewhat or very easy to obtain,
compared to 36 percent of 8th grade students statewide. None of the Sivells Bend students
reported most or all of their close friends use marijuana (17 percent statewide), none of the
students said they had gotten into "difficulties of any kind" with their friends because of their
own drug use (5 percent statewide), and none said that marijuana and/or other drugs were used
at most or all of the parties they attended during the school year (12 percent statewide).

When asked about parental attitudes toward marijuana use, Sivells Bend students reported a
disapproval rate of 100 percent, a rate higher than that reported by 8th grade students statewide
(85 percent).

Uppers (9 percent/6 percent statewide), downers (9 percent/4 percent statewide), and steroids (9
percent/2 percent statewide) are the only illicit substances reportedly used among Sivells Bend
ISD students at least once during their lifetimes. None of the SBISD students reported ever
using hallucinogens (4 percent statewide), powdered cocaine (4 percent statewide), crack (2
percent statewide), or ecstasy (2 percent statewide).

DRUG AND ALCOHOL INFORMATION

When asked where they would go for help with a drug or alcohol problem, the largest
percentage of Sivells Bend students said they would seek help from their friends (80 percent),
compared to 71 percent of 8th grade students statewide. Seventy-three percent of SBISD
students said they would seek help from their parents, a rate higher than that reported by their
peers statewide (54 percent statewide). Fifty-five percent of Sivells Bend students said they
would turn to an adult friend or relative for help (56 percent statewide). District students are
least likely to seek help from a counselor or program in school (27 percent/39 percent
statewide), another adult in school, such as a teacher or nurse (27 percent/34 percent statewide),
or a counselor or program outside of school (27 percent/44 percent statewide). Since school
began in the Fall, none of the Sivells Bend students reported seeking help for any problems
connected with alcohol or drug use from someone other than family or friends (8 percent
statewide).

Ninety percent of Sivells Bend ISD students said they had gotten information about drugs and
alcohol from a school source since classes began in the Fall, compared to 80 percent of their
counterparts statewide. Eighty percent of SBISD students reported getting information about
drugs and alcohol from a "health class" (42 percent statewide), while 60 percent said "an invited
school guest" was a source for this information (50 percent statewide), rates higher than those

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reported by 8th grade students statewide. "An assembly program" was reported by 50 percent
of district students as a source for information about drugs and alcohol (56 percent statewide).

The influence of drug education programs may be reflected in students' attitudes toward the use
of specific substances. Eighty-eight percent of Sivells Bend students believe that crack use is
"very dangerous" (88 percent statewide), and 100 percent believe that powdered cocaine use is
"very dangerous" (89 percent statewide). Eighty-six percent of SBISD students believe that
inhalant use is "very dangerous" (71 percent statewide), and 86 percent believe that marijuana
use is "very dangerous" (72 percent statewide), rates higher than those reported by 8th grade
students statewide. By contrast, the perceived danger of alcohol and tobacco use is lower. Only
11 percent of SBISD students feel that it is "very dangerous" to use alcohol (47 percent
statewide), while 22 percent believe that tobacco use is "very dangerous" (44 percent statewide),
rates lower than those reported by 8th grade students statewide.