TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE

NACOGDOCHES 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 grade 8 in the Nacogdoches Independent School District (NISD). A total of 209 students
completed the questionnaire, which asked about students' experiences with alcohol and drugs.
Of that number, 10 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 199.1

Students' responses to the questionnaire indicate that:

• Fifty-seven percent of Nacogdoches ISD students reported using tobacco at least

once during their lifetimes, and 30 percent said they had used tobacco during the
past month.

• Six percent of Nacogdoches ISD students said they smoke cigarettes on a daily basis,
while none reported using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis.

• Seventy-three percent of Nacogdoches ISD students said they had used alcohol at
least once during their lifetimes, and 40 percent reported using alcohol during the
past month.

• Fifteen percent of Nacogdoches ISD students reported attending at least one class
during the past year while "drunk."

• Lifetime use of inhalants was reported by 28 percent of Nacogdoches ISD students,

while past-month inhalant use was reported by 9 percent.

• Twenty-three percent of Nacogdoches ISD students reported using marijuana at least

once during their lifetimes, and 15 percent said they had used marijuana during
the past month.

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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• Nacogdoches ISD students are most likely to turn to friends for help with a drug or
alcohol problem (71 percent) and least likely to consult another adult in school,
such as a teacher or nurse (28 percent).

Tobacco

Over the last two years, the general use of tobacco (including cigarettes and smokeless products)
among 8th grade students statewide has stayed about the same.2 Overall, the general use of
tobacco products among Nacogdoches ISD 8th grade students is slightly higher that reported by
their counterparts statewide.

Fifty-seven percent of Nacogdoches students reported general tobacco use at least once during
their lifetimes (52 percent statewide). Thirty percent of Nacogdoches ISD students said they had
used a tobacco product during the past month, compared to 23 percent of 8th grade students
statewide.

Fifty-three percent of Nacogdoches students reported smoking cigarettes at least once during
their lifetimes (50 percent statewide), while 27 percent said they had smoked cigarettes during
the past month (21 percent statewide), and 6 percent reported smoking cigarettes on a daily basis
(5 percent statewide). Twenty-two percent of district students said most or all of their close
friends smoke cigarettes.3

Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 21 percent of NISD students, a rate
somewhat higher than that reported by 8th grade students statewide (14 percent). Four percent
of district students said they had used a smokeless tobacco product during the past month (4
percent statewide), but none of the students reported using a smokeless tobacco product on a
daily basis (1 percent statewide). Six percent of Nacogdoches 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 Nacogdoches
ISD. Alcohol use among 8th grade students statewide was similar to that reported two years
ago. Overall, Nacogdoches ISD 8th grade students are drinking alcohol at rates slightly higher
than those reported by their peers statewide.
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 the Spring of 1996.

3
Because a non-standard grade combination was surveyed in this district, some
statewide data are unavailable for comparisons throughout this summary.

2
Seventy-three percent of Nacogdoches students reported consuming alcohol at least once during
their lifetimes (68 percent statewide). Forty percent of Nacogdoches ISD students said they had
consumed alcohol during the past month, compared to 32 percent of 8th grade students
statewide.

The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by Nacogdoches students are beer (63 percent/49
percent statewide) and wine coolers (55 percent/51 percent statewide). Thirty-seven percent of
NISD students said they drink beer on a weekly or monthly basis, a rate higher than that reported
by 8th grade students statewide (28 percent). Thirty-three percent of district students said they
drink wine coolers weekly or monthly (27 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-eight percent of Nacogdoches ISD students reported
"binge drinking" beer at least once during their lifetimes (31 percent statewide), while 14 percent
said they usually drink five or more beers at a time on average when they drink (14 percent
statewide). Lifetime "binge drinking" of wine coolers was reported by 36 percent of NISD
students (33 percent statewide), while 14 percent said they usually drink five or more wine
coolers at a time on average when they drink (16 percent statewide).

Students were asked about the availability of alcohol, its use at school, its use among friends, and
its use at parties. Seventy-two percent of Nacogdoches ISD students said beer, wine, wine
coolers, or liquor were somewhat easy or very easy to obtain (69 percent statewide). Fifteen
percent of Nacogdoches students reported attending at least one class during the past school year
while "drunk" (9 percent statewide).

Thirty-three percent of district students reported most or all of their close friends drink alcohol
(27 percent statewide), and 34 percent 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 7 percent of NISD students (6 percent statewide).

Twenty-four percent of Nacogdoches students said alcohol was used at most or all of the parties
they attended in the past school year (22 percent statewide). Thirty-five percent of district
students responded "at parties" when asked where they obtain alcohol most of the time or
always, while 14 percent of NISD 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 NISD students who had not been absent since the Fall
reported having used alcohol during the past month (24 percent) than did district students who
said they had missed four or more days of school (50 percent). Seventy-seven percent of the
Nacogdoches students who had experienced difficulties with school officials on four or more
days reported using alcohol during the past 30 days. By contrast, only 28 percent of district

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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, 75 percent of Nacogdoches
students said their parents strongly or mildly disapprove (78 percent statewide). Twelve 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).

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 8th grade students statewide has stayed about the same. Overall,
Nacogdoches ISD 8th grade students are using inhalants at rates somewhat higher than those
reported by their counterparts statewide.

Twenty-eight percent of Nacogdoches students reported using inhalants at least once during their
lifetimes (24 percent statewide). Nine percent of Nacogdoches ISD students said they had used
inhalants during the past month (7 percent statewide).

Six percent of NISD students reported most or all of their close friends use inhalants (4 percent
statewide), and 7 percent said they had attended at least one class during the past school year
while "high" on inhalants (5 percent statewide). Twenty-two percent of NISD students said they
had used two or more different kinds of inhalant substances during their lifetimes, a rate
somewhat higher than that reported by 8th grade students statewide (15 percent).

The inhalant substances most frequently used by Nacogdoches students were correction
fluid/Liquid Paper (20 percent/13 percent statewide), glue (18 percent/7 percent statewide), and
liquid/spray paint (17 percent/9 percent statewide), rates higher than those reported by 8th grade
students statewide. Fourteen percent of district students reported inhaling substances in the
"other inhalants" category (11 percent statewide), 10 percent said they had inhaled paint thinner
(7 percent statewide), 10 percent reported inhaling gasoline (7 percent statewide), and 7 percent
said they had inhaled substances in the "other sprays" category (5 percent statewide) at least
once during their lifetimes.

None of the Nacogdoches ISD students who had not been absent since the Fall reported having
used inhalants during the past month, while 12 percent of district students who said they had
missed four or more days of school said they had used an inhalant during the past month. Four
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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percent of district students who had not gotten into trouble with school officials reported using
inhalants within the past 30 days. By contrast, 23 percent of district students who had gotten
into trouble with school officials on four or more days reported using inhalants during the past 30
days.

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 8th grade students statewide has increased. The use of
marijuana, the most frequently used illicit substance, has also increased among 8th grade students
statewide over the last two years.

In the Nacogdoches ISD, 26 percent of students reported use of illicit drugs at least once during
their lifetimes (28 percent statewide), while 21 percent of NISD students said they had used one
or more illicit substances three or more times (20 percent statewide), rates similar to those
reported by 8th grade students statewide. Statewide, students who said they had used illicit
drugs reported using them an average of 1.9 times in the past 30 days and 4.5 times during their
lives. Nacogdoches students reported average usage rates of 2.1 times in the past month and 5.0
times during their lifetimes.

Twenty-three percent of NISD students reported using marijuana at least once in their lifetimes, a
rate similar to that reported by their counterparts statewide (26 percent). Past-month marijuana
use was reported by 15 percent of Nacogdoches ISD students (14 percent statewide).

Eleven percent of Nacogdoches ISD students reported attending at least one class in the past
year while "stoned" on marijuana (11 percent statewide). Thirty-eight percent of NISD students
said marijuana was somewhat or very easy to obtain (41 percent statewide), and 20 percent
reported most or all of their close friends use marijuana (19 percent statewide). Six percent of
district students said they had gotten into "difficulties of any kind" with their friends because of
their own drug use (6 percent statewide). Seventeen percent of the Nacogdoches ISD students
said that marijuana and/or other drugs were used at most or all of the parties they attended
during the school year (15 percent statewide).

Fewer Nacogdoches ISD students who had not been absent since the Fall reported having used
marijuana during the past month (8 percent) than did district students who said they had missed
four or more days of school (21 percent). Four percent of Nacogdoches students who had not
gotten into trouble with school officials reported using marijuana within the past 30 days. By
contrast, 46 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, Nacogdoches students reported a
disapproval rate of 85 percent (85 percent statewide). Nine percent of district students said they

5
"don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age using marijuana (9 percent statewide),
while 4 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (3 percent statewide).

Other illicit substances are used by a small number of Nacogdoches ISD students. Eight percent
of NISD students reported using uppers (5 percent statewide), 6 percent said they had used
hallucinogens (5 percent statewide), 6 percent reported using downers (4 percent statewide), 3
percent said they had used powdered cocaine (5 percent statewide), 3 percent reported using
crack (3 percent statewide), 3 percent said they had used ecstasy (3 percent statewide), and 1
percent reported using steroids (2 percent statewide) at least once during their lifetimes.

CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH DRUG USE

Statewide, female students were somewhat less likely to have used drugs than were male
students. In the Nacogdoches ISD, however, female students were somewhat more likely to
have used inhalants, cocaine, or crack and nearly twice as likely to have used downers than were
district male students. On the other hand, NISD male students were the only reported users of
steroids in the district. There were no other significant differences by gender among NISD
students with regard to the use of tobacco products, alcohol, marijuana, or other illicit
substances.

In the statewide survey, students living in two-parent homes reported lower drug use than did
students living in other family situations. NISD students living in other family situations were
somewhat more likely to have smoked marijuana and nearly twice as likely to have used
hallucinogens, uppers, or downers than were those district students living in homes with two
parents. In addition, NISD students living in other family situations were the only reported users
of steroids in the district. There were no other significant differences by living arrangement
among Nacogdoches ISD students with regard to the use of tobacco products, alcohol, inhalants,
or other illegal drugs.

When asked where they would go for help with a drug or alcohol problem, the largest percentage
of Nacogdoches students said they would seek help from their friends (71 percent/72 percent
statewide). Fifty-two percent of NISD students said they would seek help from an adult friend
or relative (58 percent statewide), and 51 percent said they would turn to their parents (57
percent statewide). District students are least likely to seek help from another adult in school,
such as a teacher or nurse (28 percent/34 percent statewide). Since school began in the Fall, 8
percent of Nacogdoches students reported seeking help for any problems connected with alcohol
or drug use from someone other than family or friends (8 percent statewide).

Seventy-six percent of Nacogdoches 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 54 percent of district students as a source for information
about drugs and alcohol (52 percent statewide). Thirty-eight percent of NISD students said "an
invited school guest" was a source for information about drugs and alcohol (46 percent

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statewide), while 29 percent reported getting this information from a "health class" (41 percent
statewide), rates lower than those reported by their counterparts statewide.

The influence of drug education programs may be reflected in students' attitudes toward the use
of specific substances. Eighty-four percent of Nacogdoches students believe that crack use is
"very dangerous" (86 percent statewide), and 83 percent believe that powdered cocaine use is
"very dangerous" (85 percent statewide). Sixty-eight percent of NISD students believe that
inhalant use is "very dangerous" (74 percent statewide), and 63 percent believe that marijuana
use is "very dangerous" (66 percent statewide). By contrast, the perceived danger of alcohol and
tobacco use is lower. Only 40 percent of NISD students feel that it is "very dangerous" to use
alcohol (44 percent statewide), while 40 percent also believe that tobacco use is "very
dangerous" (43 percent statewide).