TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE

HEREFORD 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 grades 7 through 12 in the Hereford Independent School District (HISD). A total of 1570
students completed the questionnaire, which asked about students' experiences with alcohol and
drugs. Of that number, 138 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 1432.1

Students' responses to the questionnaire indicate that:

•Sixty-three* percent of Hereford 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).2

•Twelve* percent of Hereford ISD students said they smoke cigarettes on a daily basis,
while 3* percent reported using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis.

•Seventy-seven* percent of Hereford 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).

•Twenty-four* percent of Hereford ISD 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"
(Fig. 11).

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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•Lifetime use of inhalants was reported by 22 percent of Hereford ISD students (Fig. 1),
while past-month inhalant use was reported by 6 percent (Fig. 2).

•Twenty-nine percent of Hereford ISD students reported using marijuana at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 15 percent said they had used marijuana during
the past month (Fig. 2).

•Hereford 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
teacher or nurse (30 percent) (Fig. 17).

Tobacco

Over the last two years, the general use of tobacco (including cigarettes and smokeless products)
among students statewide has increased slightly.3 Overall, the general use of tobacco products
among Hereford ISD students, especially those in grades 8 and 10, is somewhat higher than that
reported by their counterparts statewide.

Sixty-three* percent of Hereford students reported general tobacco use at least once during their
lifetimes, compared to 55 percent of students statewide (Fig. 1). Lifetime general tobacco use
was reported by 52* percent of district 7th graders (41 percent statewide), 66* percent of
Hereford 8th graders (52 percent statewide), and 76* percent of HISD 10th graders (60 percent
statewide); rates higher than those reported by 7th, 8th, and 10th graders statewide.

Thirty-two* percent of Hereford ISD students said they had used a tobacco product during the
past month, in contrast with the 26 percent reported by students statewide (Fig. 2). The rates of
past-month general tobacco were higher than those of their counterparts statewide among HISD
8th grade students (32* percent/24 percent statewide) and district 10th grade students (42*
percent/30 percent statewide).

Sixty-one* percent of Hereford students reported smoking cigarettes at least once during their
lifetimes (53 percent statewide), while 30* percent said they had smoked cigarettes during the
past month (25 percent statewide), and 12* percent report smoking cigarettes on a daily basis (8
percent statewide); rates somewhat higher than those reported by students statewide. Daily
cigarette use was highest among Hereford ISD 10th graders (22* percent), twice the rate
reported by 10th graders statewide (11 percent). Twenty-eight* percent of HISD students said
most or all of their close friends smoke cigarettes (21 percent statewide).

Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 23* percent of HISD students (16
percent statewide), while 8* percent said they had used a smokeless tobacco product during the
past month (5 percent statewide), and 3* percent report using a smokeless tobacco product on a
3
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.

2
daily basis (1 percent statewide); rates somewhat higher than those reported by students
statewide. Five percent of district students said most or all of their close friends use smokeless
tobacco (5 percent statewide).

Alcohol

Alcohol is the most widely used substance among students statewide and in the Hereford ISD.
Alcohol use among secondary students statewide has decreased slightly from that reported two
years ago. Overall, Hereford ISD students, especially those in grades 8 and 10, are drinking
alcohol at rates somewhat higher than those reported by students statewide.

Seventy-seven* percent of Hereford students reported consuming alcohol at least once during
their lifetimes (74 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Lifetime alcohol use was lowest among HISD 7th
graders (60 percent/56 percent statewide). Eighty-nine* percent of district 10th graders reported
lifetime alcohol use, a rate higher than that reported by 10th grade students statewide (79
percent) (Fig. 3).

Forty-two* percent of Hereford ISD students said they had consumed alcohol during the past
month (38 percent statewide) (Fig. 2). Past-month alcohol use was reported by 41* percent of
HISD 8th graders (32 percent statewide) and 50 percent of district 10th graders (42 percent
statewide), rates higher than those reported by 8th and 10th graders statewide (Fig. 4).

The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by Hereford students are beer (61* percent/56
percent statewide) and wine coolers (60 percent/58 percent statewide). Forty-one* percent of
HISD students said they drink beer on a weekly or monthly basis (33 percent statewide), and 37*
percent said they drink wine coolers weekly or monthly (31 percent statewide), rates somewhat
higher than those reported by students statewide.

"Binge drinking" is the consumption of five or more beers, wine coolers, servings of wine, or
drinks with liquor at one time. HISD students are "binge drinking) beer and wine coolers at rates
higher than those reported by their peers statewide. Forty-six* percent of Hereford ISD students
reported "binge drinking" beer at least once during their lifetimes (37 percent statewide), while
31* percent said they usually drink five or more beers at a time on average when they drink (19
percent statewide). Lifetime "binge drinking" of wine coolers was reported by 47* percent of
HISD students (40 percent statewide), while 28* percent said they usually drink five or more
wine coolers at a time on average when they drink (18 percent statewide).

Twelve* percent of Hereford students reported attending at least one class during the past school
year while "drunk" (9 percent statewide). Attending class while intoxicated was reported by 17*
percent of HISD 10th graders, nearly double the rate reported by 10th graders statewide (10
percent) (Figs. 9a and 9b). Twenty-four* percent of HISD 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 9th through 12th grade students statewide. Driving while intoxicated
was reported by 24* percent of Hereford 10th graders, twice the rate reported by 10th graders

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statewide (12 percent). 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).

Students were asked about the availability of alcohol, its use among friends, and its use at parties.
Seventy-six percent of Hereford ISD students said beer, wine, wine coolers, or liquor were
somewhat easy or very easy to obtain (75 percent statewide). Forty-six* percent of district
students reported most or all of their close friends drink alcohol (37 percent statewide), and 48*
percent responded "from friends" when asked where they obtained alcohol most of the time or
always (39 percent statewide), rates higher than those reported by students statewide.
"Difficulties of any kind" with friends because of one's own drinking was reported by 12* percent
of HISD students (9 percent statewide).

Fifty-two* percent of Hereford students said alcohol was used at most or all of the parties they
attended in the past school year, in contrast with the 37 percent reported by students statewide.
Alcohol use at most or all parties was reported by 40* percent of HISD 8th graders (22 percent
statewide) and 68* percent of Hereford 10th graders (48 percent statewide), rates higher than
those reported by 8th and 10th graders statewide (Figs. 13a and 13b). Fifty* percent of district
students responded "at parties" when asked where they obtain alcohol most of the time or always
(43 percent statewide), while 16 percent of HISD students said they get alcohol "from the store"
most of the time or always (17 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 HISD students who had not been absent since the Fall
reported having used alcohol during the past month (30* percent/25 percent statewide) than did
district students who said they had missed four or more days of school (48 percent/44 percent
statewide). Sixty-nine* percent of Hereford ISD students who had experienced difficulties with
school officials on four or more days reported using alcohol during the past 30 days (62 percent
statewide). By contrast, only 31* percent of district students who had not experienced
difficulties with school officials because of conduct problems had used alcohol within the past 30
days (25 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, 73 percent of Hereford students
said their parents strongly or mildly disapprove (76 percent statewide). Ten percent of district
students said they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age drinking beer (9
percent statewide), and 11 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (10 percent
statewide) (Fig. 15).

Inhalants4

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.

4
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 has stayed about the same. Overall, Hereford ISD
students are using inhalants at rates somewhat similar to those reported by their counterparts
statewide.

Twenty-two percent of Hereford students reported using inhalants at least once during their
lifetimes (20 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). The rates of lifetime inhalant use ranged from 14
percent among district 12th grade students (14 percent statewide) to 27 percent among HISD
8th grade students (24 percent statewide) (Figs. 5a and 5b).

Six percent of Hereford ISD students said they had used inhalants during the past month (5
percent statewide) (Fig. 2). Past-month inhalant use was reported by 13 percent of district 7th
grade students (8 percent statewide). None of the HISD 12th graders reported past-month
inhalant use (2 percent statewide) (Figs. 6a and 6b).

Four* percent of HISD students reported most or all of their close friends use inhalants (3
percent statewide), and 5 percent said they had attended at least one class during the past school
year while "high" on inhalants (4 percent statewide). Fourteen* percent of HISD 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 Hereford students were those in the "other
inhalants" category (11* percent/8 percent statewide), liquid/spray paint (11* percent/7 percent
statewide), and gasoline (10* percent/5 percent statewide); rates somewhat higher than those
reported by their peers statewide. Eight percent of HISD students reported inhaling correction
fluid/Liquid Paper (9 percent statewide), 6 percent said they had inhaled glue (5 percent
statewide), 6* percent reported inhaling substances in the "other sprays" category (4 percent
statewide), and 6 percent said they had inhaled paint thinner (5 percent statewide) at least once
during their lifetimes (Figs. 7a and 7b).

Fewer Hereford ISD students who had not been absent since the Fall reported having used
inhalants during the past month (3 percent/4 percent statewide) than did district students who
said they had missed four or more days of school (7 percent/6 percent statewide). Two percent
of HISD students who had not gotten into trouble with school officials reported using inhalants
within the past 30 days (3 percent statewide). By contrast, 14 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 (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. Over the last

5
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 Hereford ISD, 32 percent of students reported use of illicit drugs at least once during their
lifetimes (34 percent statewide), while 25 percent of HISD students said they had used one or
more illicit substances three or more times (25 percent statewide). Statewide, students who said
they had used illicit drugs reported using them an average of 2.2 times in the past 30 days and 6.4
times during their lives. Hereford students reported average usage rates of 2.4 times in the past
month and 6.2 times during their lifetimes.

Twenty-nine percent of HISD students reported using marijuana at least once in their lifetimes, a
rate similar to that reported by students statewide (31 percent) (Fig. 1). The rates of lifetime
marijuana use ranged from 15 percent among Hereford 7th graders (17 percent statewide) to 38
percent among district 10th graders (36 percent statewide) (Figs. 5a and 5b).

Past-month marijuana use was reported by 15 percent of Hereford ISD students (16 percent
statewide) (Fig. 2). The rates of past-month marijuana use ranged from 10 percent among
district 7th graders (9 percent statewide) to 18 percent among HISD 9th graders (19 percent
statewide) (Figs. 6a and 6b).

Eleven percent of HISD students reported attending at least one class in the past year while
"stoned" on marijuana (13 percent statewide). Class attendance while stoned was reported by 7
percent of Hereford 12th graders, nearly half that reported by 12th graders statewide (13
percent) (Figs. 10a and 10b). Driving under the influence of drugs at least once during the past
year was reported by 12 percent of Hereford ISD 9th through 12th grade students (12 percent
statewide). Driving under the influence of drugs was highest among HISD 12th graders (15
percent/17 percent statewide).

Forty-nine* percent of HISD students said marijuana was somewhat or very easy to obtain (53
percent statewide), and 17* percent reported most or all of their close friends use marijuana (21
percent statewide). Seven 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).

Nineteen* percent of the Hereford ISD students said that marijuana and/or other drugs were
used at most or all of the parties they attended during the school year (23 percent statewide).
The use of marijuana and/or other drugs at most or all parties was reported by 17* percent of
district 9th graders (25 percent statewide) and 24* percent of HISD 12th graders (33 percent
statewide), rates lower than those reported by 9th and 12th graders statewide.

Fewer Hereford ISD students who had not been absent since the Fall reported having used
marijuana during the past month (8 percent/9 percent statewide) than did district students who
said they had missed four or more days of school (18 percent/20 percent statewide). Four
percent of HISD students who had not gotten into trouble with school officials reported using
marijuana within the past 30 days (7 percent statewide). By contrast, 44 percent of district

6
students who had gotten into trouble with school officials on four or more days reported using
marijuana during the past 30 days (38 percent statewide).

When asked about parental attitudes toward marijuana use, Hereford students reported a
disapproval rate of 84 percent (85 percent statewide). Nine percent of district students said they
"don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age using marijuana (8 percent statewide),
while 4 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (4 percent statewide) (Fig. 15).

Uppers (12* percent/8 percent statewide) and powdered cocaine (11* percent/7 percent
statewide) are the next most frequently used illicit substances among Hereford ISD students.
Seven percent of HISD students reported using downers (6 percent statewide), 6* percent said
they had used hallucinogens (8 percent statewide), 7 percent reported using downers (6 percent
statewide), 3 percent reported using crack (3 percent statewide), 2 percent said they had used
steroids (2 percent statewide), and 2* percent reported using ecstasy (5 percent statewide) at
least once during their lifetimes (Fig. 1).

CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH DRUG USE

Statewide, female students were somewhat less likely to have used drugs than were male
students. In the Hereford ISD, male students were somewhat more likely to have used marijuana
or hallucinogens, and nearly twice as likely to have used powdered cocaine or crack than were
district female students. There were no other significant differences by gender among HISD
students with regard to the use of tobacco products, alcohol, inhalants, 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. HISD students living in other family situations were
somewhat more likely to have used inhalants, uppers, or downers, nearly twice as likely to have
used marijuana, crack, or hallucinogens, and over two times more likely to have used powdered
cocaine or ecstasy than were those district students living in homes with two parents. There
were no other significant differences by living arrangement among Hereford ISD students with
regard to the use of tobacco products, alcohol, or steroids.

When asked where they would go for help with a drug or alcohol problem, the largest percentage
of Hereford students said they would seek help from their friends (75 percent/74 percent
statewide). Sixty-three* percent of HISD students said they would seek help from an adult friend
or relative (58 percent statewide), and 56 percent said they would turn to their parents (54
percent statewide). District students are least likely to seek help for a drug or alcohol problem
from another adult in school, such as a teacher or nurse (30 percent/32 percent statewide), or a
counselor or program in school (32 percent/35 percent statewide) (Fig. 17). Since school began
in the Fall, 7 percent of Hereford students reported seeking help for any problems connected with
alcohol or drug use from someone other than family or friends (7 percent statewide).

Eighty-two* percent of Hereford ISD students said they had gotten information about drugs and
alcohol from a school source since classes began in the Fall, compared to 75 percent of students

7
statewide. "An assembly program" was reported by 59* percent of district students as a source
for information about drugs and alcohol (44 percent statewide), while 58* percent reported
getting information about drugs and alcohol from a "health class" (46 percent statewide), and
49* percent said "an invited school guest" was a source for this information (38 percent
statewide); rates higher than those reported by students statewide.

The influence of drug education programs may be reflected in students' attitudes toward the use
of specific substances. Eighty-eight percent of Hereford students believe that crack use is "very
dangerous" (88 percent statewide), and 86 percent believe that powdered cocaine use is "very
dangerous" (87 percent statewide). Seventy-six percent of HISD students believe that inhalant
use is "very dangerous" (76 percent statewide). Sixty-nine* percent of Hereford students believe
that marijuana use is "very dangerous," a rate higher than that reported by their counterparts
statewide (60 percent). By contrast, the perceived danger of alcohol and tobacco use is lower.
Only 44 percent of HISD students feel that it is "very dangerous" to use alcohol (44 percent
statewide), while 41 percent believe that tobacco use is "very dangerous" (39 percent statewide)
(Fig. 13).