TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE

LAKE WORTH 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 10 in the Lake Worth Independent School District (LWISD). A total of 55 students
completed the questionnaire, which asked about students' experiences with alcohol and drugs.
Of that number, 2 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 53.1

Students' responses to the questionnaire indicate that:

•Seventy-nine percent of Lake Worth ISD students reported using tobacco at least once
during their lifetimes, and 42 percent said they had used tobacco during the past
month.

•Fifteen percent of Lake Worth ISD students said they smoke cigarettes on a daily basis,
while 3 percent reported using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis.

•Ninety percent of Lake Worth ISD students said they had used alcohol at least once
during their lifetimes, and 54 percent reported using alcohol during the past
month.

•Nineteen percent of Lake Worth ISD 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 23 percent of Lake Worth ISD students, while
past-month inhalant use was reported by 4 percent.

•Forty-three percent of Lake Worth ISD students reported using marijuana at least once
during their lifetimes, and 23 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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•Lake Worth ISD students are most likely to turn to friends for help with a drug or
alcohol problem (89 percent) and least likely to consult a another adult in school,
such as a teacher or nurse (31 percent).

Tobacco

Over the last two years, the general use of tobacco (including cigarettes and smokeless products)
among 10th grade students statewide has stayed about the same.2 Overall, the general use of
tobacco products among Lake Worth ISD 10th graders is higher than that reported by their
counterparts statewide.

Seventy-nine percent of Lake Worth students reported general tobacco use at least once during
their lifetimes, compared to 60 percent of 10th grade students statewide. Forty-two percent of
Lake Worth ISD students said they had used a tobacco product during the past month, a rate
higher than that reported by their peers statewide (30 percent).

Seventy-seven percent of Lake Worth students reported smoking cigarettes at least once during
their lifetimes (58 percent statewide), while 38 percent said they had smoked cigarettes during
the past month (28 percent statewide), rates higher than those reported by 10th graders
statewide. Fifteen percent of district students reported smoking cigarettes on a daily basis (11
percent statewide), while 28 percent said most or all of their close friends smoke cigarettes.3

Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 35 percent of LWISD students (19
percent statewide), while 15 percent said they had used a smokeless tobacco product during the
past month (7 percent statewide), nearly double the rates reported by their counterparts
statewide. Using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis was reported by 3 percent of
district students (2 percent statewide), and 4 percent 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 Lake Worth ISD.
Alcohol use among 10th grade students statewide was similar to that reported two years ago.
Overall, Lake Worth ISD 10th graders are drinking alcohol at rates somewhat 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
Ninety percent of Lake Worth students reported consuming alcohol at least once during their
lifetimes, compared to 79 percent of 10th grade students statewide. Fifty-four percent of Lake
Worth ISD students said they had consumed alcohol during the past month, a rate higher than
that reported by their counterparts statewide (42 percent).

The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by Lake Worth students are beer (65 percent/63
percent statewide) and wine coolers (79 percent/65 percent statewide). Thirty-five percent of
LWISD students said they drink beer on a weekly or monthly basis (38 percent statewide).
Forty-six percent of district students said they drink wine coolers weekly or monthly, in contrast
to the 35 percent reported by 10th 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. Forty-four percent of Lake Worth ISD students reported "binge
drinking" beer at least once during their lifetimes (42 percent statewide), while 18 percent said
they usually drink five or more beers at a time on average when they drink (23 percent
statewide). Lifetime "binge drinking" of wine coolers was reported by 48 percent of LWISD
students (44 percent statewide), while 31 percent said they usually drink five or more wine
coolers at a time on average when they drink (21 percent statewide).

Three percent of Lake Worth students reported attending at least one class during the past school
year while "drunk," a rate somewhat lower than that reported by their peers statewide (10
percent). Nineteen percent of LWISD students said that they had driven a car after having "a
good bit to drink" at least once during the past year, a rate somewhat higher than that reported
by 10th grade students statewide (12 percent).

Students were asked about the availability of alcohol, its use among friends, and its use at parties.
Eighty-nine percent of Lake Worth ISD students said beer, wine, wine coolers, or liquor were
somewhat easy or very easy to obtain (83 percent statewide). Fifty-five percent of district
students reported most or all of their close friends drink alcohol (51 percent statewide), and 49
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 18
percent of LWISD students, compared to 10 percent of their counterparts statewide.

Forty-seven percent of Lake Worth students said alcohol was used at most or all of the parties
they attended in the past school year (48 percent statewide). Forty-four percent of district
students responded "at parties" when asked where they obtain alcohol most of the time or
always, while 24 percent of LWISD students said they get alcohol "from the store" most of the
time or always.

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, 67 percent of Lake Worth
students said their parents strongly or mildly disapprove, a rate lower than that reported by their
peers statewide (77 percent). Seventeen percent of district students said their parents neither
approve nor disapprove of kids their age drinking beer (12 percent statewide), while 10 percent

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said they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age drinking beer (7 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 10th grade students statewide stayed about the same. Overall, Lake
Worth ISD 10th graders are using inhalants at rates similar to those reported by their
counterparts statewide.

Twenty-three percent of Lake Worth students reported using inhalants at least once during their
lifetimes (18 percent statewide). Four percent of Lake Worth ISD students said they had used
inhalants during the past month (4 percent statewide).

Two percent of LWISD students reported most or all of their close friends use inhalants (3
percent statewide), but none said they had attended at least one class during the past school year
while "high" on inhalants (3 percent statewide). Fourteen percent of LWISD students said they
had used two or more different kinds of inhalant substances during their lifetimes (10 percent
statewide).

The inhalant substances most frequently used by Lake Worth students were correction
fluid/Liquid Paper (11 percent/9 percent statewide), paint thinner (11 percent/5 percent
statewide), liquid/spray paint (9 percent/7 percent statewide), and gasoline (8 percent/6 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
two years, the use of illicit drugs among 10th grade students statewide has increased. The use of
marijuana, the most frequently used illicit substance, has also increased among 10th graders
statewide over the last two years.

In the Lake Worth ISD, 44 percent of students reported use of illicit drugs at least once during
their lifetimes (39 percent statewide). Forty-one percent of LWISD students said they had used
one or more illicit substances three or more times, a rate higher than that reported by 10th grade
students statewide (30 percent). Statewide, students who said they had used illicit drugs
reported using them an average of 2.7 times in the past 30 days and 7.1 times during their lives.

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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Lake Worth students reported average usage rates of 5.2 times in the past month and 14.4 times
during their lifetimes.

Forty-three percent of LWISD students reported using marijuana at least once in their lifetimes, a
rate somewhat higher than that reported by their counterparts statewide (36 percent).
Past-month marijuana use was reported by 23 percent of Lake Worth ISD students (18 percent
statewide).

Twenty percent of LWISD students reported attending at least one class in the past year while
"stoned" on marijuana, compared to 14 percent of 10th grade students statewide. Driving under
the influence of drugs at least once during the past year was reported by 14 percent of Lake
Worth ISD students (10 percent statewide).

Seventy-eight percent of LWISD students said marijuana was somewhat or very easy to obtain
(63 percent statewide), while 40 percent reported most or all of their close friends use marijuana
(25 percent statewide), and 15 percent said they had gotten into "difficulties of any kind" with
their friends because of their own drug use (8 percent statewide), rates higher than those reported
by their counterparts statewide. Twenty-eight percent of the Lake Worth ISD students said that
marijuana and/or other drugs were used at most or all of the parties they attended during the
school year (29 percent statewide).

When asked about parental attitudes toward marijuana use, Lake Worth students reported a
disapproval rate of 84 percent (87 percent statewide). Ten percent of district students said they
"don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age using marijuana (6 percent statewide),
while 3 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (5 percent statewide).

Other illicit substances are used by a smaller number of Lake Worth ISD students, although at
rates higher than those reported by 10th grade students statewide. Twenty-six percent of LWISD
students reported using uppers (11 percent statewide), 25 percent said they had used powdered
cocaine (8 percent statewide), 19 percent said they had used hallucinogens (9 percent statewide),
17 percent reported using downers (7 percent statewide), and 9 percent reported using ecstasy (7
percent statewide) at least once during their lifetimes.

DRUG AND ALCOHOL INFORMATION

When asked where they would go for help with a drug or alcohol problem, the largest percentage
of Lake Worth students said they would seek help from their friends (89 percent/78 percent
statewide). Sixty-three percent of LWISD students said they would seek help from an adult
friend or relative (58 percent statewide). Sixty-two percent of Lake Worth students said they
would turn to their parents for help with a drug or alcohol problem, a rate higher than that
reported by their peers statewide (52 percent). District students are least likely to seek help from
another adult in school, such as a teacher or nurse (31 percent/30 percent statewide). Since
school began in the Fall, 14 percent of Lake Worth students reported seeking help for any

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problems connected with alcohol or drug use from someone other than family or friends (6
percent statewide).

Ninety-three percent of Lake Worth ISD students said they had gotten information about drugs
and alcohol from a school source since classes began in the Fall, in contrast to the 75 percent
reported by 10th grade students statewide. "An assembly program" was reported by 89 percent
of district students as a source for information about drugs and alcohol (40 percent statewide),
while 89 percent said "an invited school guest" was a source for this information (34 percent
statewide), rates considerably higher than those reported by their counterparts statewide. Sixty-
eight percent of LWISD students reported getting information about drugs and alcohol from a
"health class," a rate higher than that reported by 10th grade students statewide (53 percent).

The influence of drug education programs may be reflected in students' attitudes toward the use
of specific substances. Ninety-one percent of Lake Worth students believe that crack use is "very
dangerous" (89 percent statewide), and 86 percent believe that powdered cocaine use is "very
dangerous" (87 percent statewide). Ninety-one percent of LWISD students believe that inhalant
use is "very dangerous," a rate higher than that reported by their peers statewide (77 percent
statewide). Forty-eight percent of Lake Worth students believe that marijuana use is "very
dangerous" (54 percent statewide). By contrast, the perceived danger of alcohol and tobacco use
is lower. Only 40 percent of LWISD students believe that tobacco use is "very dangerous" (34
percent statewide), while 38 percent feel that it is "very dangerous" to use alcohol (43 percent
statewide).