Texas School Survey Of Drug And Alcohol Use

Meyersville ISD

Secondary Executive Summary

Introduction

The Texas School Survey is an annual collection of self-reported tobacco, alcohol, inhalant, and
substance use data from among elementary and/or secondary students in individual districts
throughout the state of Texas. The survey, conducted by the Public Policy Research Institute
(PPRI) in conjunction with the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (TCADA), is also
administered every other year to a representative sample of Texas students in grades 4 through 6
and grades 7 through 12.

Data from the statewide sampling, last administered in 1996, are incorporated into an over-time
database maintained by TCADA to track trends in substance use so that policymakers at the state
level have up-to-date information upon which to base decisions and plot prevention strategies.
These data also serve as an overall standard of comparison for use by those at the district level to
interpret, and act upon, local survey findings in a similar way.

The executive summary begins with a section containing a general demographic overview of those
who took the survey in the participating district. This is followed by sections dealing with the
various substances covered by the survey---tobacco, alcohol, inhalants, and illicit drugs. The
summary concludes with a section that explores selected characteristics associated with substance
use in the district and a final one dealing with where students come by what they know about drugs
and alcohol and to whom they might turn if they thought they were having a problem.

For context, each section dealing with substance use will begin with a brief, over-time glimpse of
the statewide trends in the 1990's with regard to that substance. Use data are then sandwiched in
between subsections dealing with environment and, where the data are applicable, with behavior
specifically associated with substance use.

Items that are generally recognized as contributing to the environment in which substance use is
most likely to occur include availability, peer use, and parental attitudes. Included in the behavior
category are such things as "binge drinking" (the consuming of five or more alcoholic beverages at
one time), attending class drunk or stoned, use of alcohol or illicit drugs at parties, or operating a
motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

As for the actual, self-reported use of each substance, it is important to note the frequency of such
use. Is it experimental, a once-in-a-lifetime thing? Is it casual use, a once-in-a-while behavior? Or
is it regular use, a monthly, weekly, or---in the case of tobacco products in particular---a daily
habit? Further, use data are used to differentiate between those who smoke cigarettes from those
who use a smokeless tobacco product, those who drink beer from those who drink wine coolers,
those who sniff correction fluid from those who sniff glue, and those who smoke marijuana from
those who snort powdered cocaine.

Three final points should be noted about the data. First, 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. Second, due to the small number of students surveyed in
this district, no between-grade comparisons can be made.

Finally, some of the grade-by-grade data in this report may be marked with an asterisk. Data so
marked 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.

The percentages referred to in the executive summary that follows were taken from the tables found
in "Part I: District Survey Results."

Demographic Overview

In the Spring of 1998, the Texas School Survey was administered to students in grades 7 and 8 in
the Meyersville Independent School District (MISD). Texas School Survey protocols, formulated to
ensure that the data used in this analysis has an acceptable probability of error, called for the district to
administer the survey to all of the students. The accuracy of the data requires that school staff
administering the survey followed the protocols.

A total of 38 students completed the questionnaire. Of that number, 1 survey was excluded from
analysis because the student did not indicate his or her grade or age, or because he or she was
identified as an exaggerator (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 37,
consisting of:

• Fifty-two percent who are 7th graders and 48 percent who are 8th graders;

• A fairly even split of male (48 percent) and female (52 percent) students;

• An ethnic breakdown that is 95 percent white, and 5 percent Mexican-American;

• Sixty-two percent who say they live in a two-parent home, and 81 percent who report they have
lived in the district for three or more years; and

• Forty-one percent who say their parent(s) are college graduates, and 17 percent who indicate
they qualify for free/reduced lunches at school.

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Tobacco

General tobacco use includes both cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products. Between 1992 and
1998, those 7th and 8th grade students statewide who have reported experimental use of tobacco
products has stayed relatively flat at about 45 percent (about 40 percent for those students in grade
7 and about 50 percent for those students in grade 8). On the other hand, the prevalence of those
7th and 8th grade students who have reported past-month tobacco use inched upward between 1992
(about 16 percent) and 1996 (about 20 percent)---although the 1998 statewide assessment suggests
that this rate may now be in decline for the first time (to about 18 percent).

Overall, the general use of tobacco products among Meyersville ISD students in 1998 was
somewhat similar to that reported by their counterparts statewide. However, MISD students were
using smokeless tobacco products at rates higher than those indicated by their peers statewide.

Environment. Nearly three-quarters of MISD students (74* percent) reported that cigarettes are
somewhat or very easy to get (55 percent statewide), while 8* percent said most or all of their close
friends smoke cigarettes (15 percent statewide); rates higher and lower, respectively, than those
indicated by students statewide.

About half of district students (51* percent) indicated that smokeless tobacco products are
somewhat or very easy to get, compared to the 28 percent reported by students statewide. Three
percent of Meyersville students said most or all of their close friends use smokeless tobacco (3
percent statewide).

Students were asked about parental attitudes toward the use of cigarettes by “kids your age.”
Eighty-two percent of MISD students said their parents strongly or mildly disapprove of kids
smoking (82 percent statewide), and 7 percent said they "don't know" how their parents feel about
kids their age smoking cigarettes (11 percent statewide); rates lower and higher, respectively, than
those indicated by students statewide. Eight percent of district students said their parents neither
approve nor disapprove of kids their age smoking cigarettes (5 percent statewide).

Just under half of Meyersville students (47 percent) believe that tobacco use is "very dangerous"
(48 percent statewide).

Use. Forty-eight percent of Meyersville students reported general tobacco use at least once during
their lifetimes (45 percent statewide), and 20 percent said they had used a tobacco product during
the past month (18 percent statewide).

Forty-eight percent of Meyersville students reported smoking cigarettes at least once during their
lifetimes (44 percent statewide), while 20 percent said they had smoked cigarettes during the past
month (18 percent statewide), and 3 percent reported smoking cigarettes on a daily basis (3 percent
statewide). Experimental use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 23* percent of MISD
students (10 percent statewide), while 9* percent said they had used a smokeless tobacco product
during the past month (3 percent statewide), and 3 percent reported using a smokeless tobacco
product on a daily basis (less than 1 percent statewide); rates higher than those indicated by
students statewide.

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Alcohol

Alcohol is the most widely used substance among students statewide and in the Rio Hondo ISD.
Experimental alcohol use among 7th and 8th grade students statewide has hovered at just above 60
percent between 1992 and 1998, while past-month use has held steady at just over 25 percent
throughout this same period.

Overall, Meyersville ISD students appear to have been drinking alcohol at rates higher than those
reported by their peers statewide.

Environment. A third of district students (33 percent) reported most or all of their close friends
drink alcohol (22 percent statewide), and 78 percent said beer, wine, wine coolers, or liquor were
somewhat easy or very easy to obtain (62 percent statewide); rates that would appear to be higher
than those indicated by their peers statewide. District students were asked where they obtained
alcohol most of the time or always. Nearly half of MISD students (48* percent) said they obtain
alcohol "at parties,” a rate higher than that indicated by students statewide (26 percent). Thirty-one
percent of Meyersville students responded that they get alcohol "from friends" most of the time or
always (21 percent statewide).

Parental attitudes can be a major factor in whether or not a student uses alcohol. When asked how
their parents feel about kids their age drinking beer, 73 percent of Meyersville students said their
parents strongly or mildly disapprove (80 percent statewide), and 8 percent said their parents
neither approve nor disapprove (11 percent statewide); rates somewhat lower than those reported by
students statewide. Ten percent of district students said they "don't know" how their parents feel
about kids their age drinking beer (6 percent statewide).

Only about a third of MISD students (36 percent) feel that it is "very dangerous" to use alcohol,
compared to the 46 percent indicated by their counterparts statewide.

Use. Seventy-one* percent of Meyersville students reported consuming alcohol at least once
during their lifetimes (61 percent statewide), and 37* percent said they had consumed alcohol
during the past month (27 percent statewide); rates higher than those indicated by students
statewide.

The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by Meyersville students are beer (67* percent/45
percent statewide) and wine coolers (60* percent/43 percent statewide); rates higher than those
indicated by their peers statewide. Nearly half of MISD students (48* percent) said they drink beer
on a weekly or monthly basis (22 percent statewide), and 38* percent said they drink wine coolers
weekly or monthly (31 percent statewide); rates higher than those indicated by students statewide.

Behavior Associated With Use. "Binge drinking" is the consumption of five or more beers, wine
coolers, servings of wine, or drinks with liquor at one time. Forty percent of Meyersville ISD
students reported "binge drinking" beer at least once during their lifetimes (26 percent statewide),
and 11 percent said they usually drink five or more beers at a time on average when they drink (9
percent statewide). One-time "binge drinking" of wine coolers was reported by 30 percent of
MISD students (30 percent statewide). However, none of the MISD students said they usually

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drink five or more wine coolers at a time on average when they drink, compared to the 11 percent
reported by students statewide.

Three percent of Meyersville students reported attending at least one class during the past school
year while "drunk" (9 percent statewide). Just over a third of Meyersville students (34 percent) said
alcohol was used at most or all of the parties they attended in the past school year, twice the rate
reported by students statewide (17 percent).

None of the MISD students said they had gotten into trouble with their teacher because of alcohol
use at least once during the past school year (1 percent statewide), and none reported they had
gotten in trouble with the police because of their alcohol use during the past year (2 percent
statewide). Three percent of district students said they had "difficulties of any kind" with friends
because of one's own drinking (5 percent statewide).

Illicit Drugs

Illicit drugs are defined as controlled substances and include marijuana, cocaine (powdered form
and crack), uppers (stimulants), downers (narcotics), Rohypnol, hallucinogens, ecstasy, and heroin.

Between 1992 and 1996, there was a dramatic increase in the use of illicit drugs, marijuana in
particular, among Texas students in the 7th and 8th grades. In 1992, 13 percent of these students
said they had experimented with illegal drugs and 11 percent indicated they had tried marijuana at
least once. Four years later, these rates had nearly doubled---to 24 percent who said they had tried
an illicit substance and 21 percent who indicated they had experimented with marijuana. These
lifetime use rates stayed relatively flat through 1998.

In 1992, 5 percent reported having used an illicit drug in the past month and 4 percent said they had
smoked marijuana during the past month. Four years later, these rates had nearly tripled---to 13
percent with regard to illegal drugs in general and 11 percent with regard to marijuana in particular.
In the 1998 assessment, however, the use of these substances during the previous month dipped
slightly.

Overall, the use of illicit drugs, and of marijuana in particular, among Meyersville ISD secondary
students in 1998 was lower than that reported by their counterparts statewide.

Environment. Fifteen* percent of MISD students said marijuana was somewhat or very easy to
obtain (30 percent statewide), 6* percent said that powdered cocaine was easily accessible to them
(14 percent statewide), 4* percent believed that uppers are somewhat or very easy to come by (11
percent statewide), and 3* percent indicated that downers were accessible to them (11 percent
statewide); rates lower than those reported by students statewide.

None of the district students reported most or all of their close friends use marijuana, in contrast to
the 14 percent reported by their peers statewide. When asked about parental attitudes toward
marijuana use, Meyersville students reported a disapproval rate of 93 percent (85 percent
statewide), and 5 percent said they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age using

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marijuana (10 percent statewide). None of the MISD students said their parents neither approve
nor disapprove (2 percent statewide).

Eighty-six* percent of Meyersville students believe that marijuana use is "very dangerous,”
compared to the 70 percent indicated by students statewide. As for how students view the risks
associated with the use of certain other illicit substances, 91 percent of district students feel that the
use of crack is "very dangerous" (86 percent statewide), 92 percent indicated that heroin was “very
dangerous” (86 percent statewide), and 97* percent believe that powdered cocaine use is "very
dangerous" (87 percent statewide).

Use. In the Meyersville ISD, 6* percent of students reported experimental use of an illicit drug (24
percent statewide), and 6* percent of MISD students reported smoking marijuana at least once in
their lifetimes (22 percent statewide); rates lower than those reported by their peers statewide.
None of the Meyersville students reported past-month marijuana use (11 percent statewide).

None of the MISD students said they had ever used powdered cocaine (5 percent statewide),
Rohypnol (5 percent statewide), uppers (4 percent statewide), downers (3 percent statewide),
hallucinogens (3 percent statewide), crack (3 percent statewide), ecstasy (2 percent statewide),
heroin (2 percent statewide), or steroids (2 percent statewide).

Behavior Associated with Use. None of the MISD students reported attending at least one class in
the past year while "stoned" on marijuana, compared to the 10 percent indicated by their
counterparts statewide. Two* percent of the Meyersville ISD students said that marijuana and/or
other drugs were used at most or all of the parties they attended during the school year, a rate lower
than that reported by students statewide (12 percent).

None of the MISD students said they had ever gotten into trouble with their teacher because of
illicit drug use at least once during the past school year (2 percent statewide), none reported they
had ever gotten in trouble with the police because of their use of illegal drugs during the past year
(3 percent statewide), and none said they had ever gotten into "difficulties of any kind" with their
friends during the past year because of their own drug use (5 percent statewide).

Inhalants

In general, inhalants are common, licit substances (paints, thinners, correction fluid, glue, etc.)
which, when sniffed, huffed, or inhaled, produce an intoxicating effect. Lifetime and past-month
inhalant use percentages have been adjusted to reflect reported use of both specific inhalants and
inhalant use generally. This adjustment was made because some students responded positive to
specific use without responding positive to generic use, while some students responded positive to
generic use but not specific inhalants.

In 1992, just over a quarter (27 percent) of 7th and 8th grade students statewide said they had
experimented with inhalants, while 9 percent indicated they had used such a substance during the
past year. Over the next four years, both lifetime and---to a lesser extent---past-year inhalant use
was trending downward among 7th and 8th grade students. In 1996, just under a quarter (23
percent) reported experimental inhalant use, and 8 percent said they had used an inhalant during the

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past month. However, a new trend may be emerging. In the 1998 statewide assessment, lifetime
and---to a greater extent---previous-month inhalant use showed increases.

Overall, Meyersville ISD students are using inhalants in 1998 at rates lower than those reported by
their counterparts statewide.

Environment. None of the MISD students reported most or all of their close friends use inhalants
(4 percent statewide). Eighty-two percent of district students believe that inhalant use is "very
dangerous" (74 percent statewide).

Use. Eight* percent of Meyersville students reported using inhalants at least once during their
lifetimes, a rate a good deal lower than that indicated by their peers statewide (26 percent). None
of the Meyersville ISD students said they had used inhalants during the past month, compared to
the 12 percent reported by students statewide. Five percent of MISD students said they had used
two or more different kinds of inhalant substances during their lifetimes, a third of the rate
indicated by their counterparts statewide (15 percent).

The inhalant substance most frequently used by Meyersville students was (6 percent/12 percent
statewide), a rate somewhat lower than that reported by students statewide. Six percent of district
students indicated they had inhaled correction fluid/whiteout (14 percent statewide), 3 percent said
they had inhaled glue (8 percent statewide), 3 percent reported they had inhaled gasoline (7 percent
statewide), 3 indicated they had inhaled substances in the “other inhalants” category (14 percent
statewide), and 2 percent said they had inhaled liquid/spray paint (12 percent statewide) at least
once during their lifetimes.

Drug and Alcohol Information

The influence of drug education programs may be reflected in students' attitudes toward the use of
specific substances reported above. Nearly three-quarters of Meyersville ISD students (73 percent)
said they had gotten information about drugs and alcohol from a school source since classes began
in the Fall (63 percent statewide). "An assembly program" was reported by 53 percent of district
students as a source for information about drugs and alcohol (54 percent statewide), while 39
percent said a “health class” was a source for this information (47 percent statewide), and 35
percent reported getting information about drugs and alcohol from “an invited school guest” (47
percent statewide).

When asked where they would go for help with a drug or alcohol problem, the largest percentage of
Meyersville students said they would seek help from their friends (61 percent/69 percent
statewide), a rate somewhat lower than that indicated by students statewide. Fifty-two percent of
MISD students said they would seek help from an adult friend or relative for a substance use
problem (58 percent statewide), and 52 percent said they would turn to their parents (59 percent
statewide). District students are least likely to seek help for a drug or alcohol problem from a
counselor or program in school (39 percent/43 percent statewide), or a counselor or program
outside of school (39 percent/45 percent statewide). Since school began in the Fall, 3 percent of
Meyersville students reported seeking help for any problems connected with alcohol or drug use
from someone other than family or friends (7 percent statewide).