TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE

SHAMROCK 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 8, 10, and 12 in the Shamrock Independent School District (SISD). A total of 91
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 89.1

Students' responses to the questionnaire indicate that:

• Sixty-five percent of Shamrock ISD students reported using tobacco at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 35 percent said they had used tobacco during
the past month (Fig. 2).

• Eight percent of Shamrock ISD students said they smoke cigarettes on a daily basis,
while 7 percent reported using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis.

• Seventy-eight percent of Shamrock ISD students said they had used alcohol at least
once during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 58* percent reported using alcohol during
the past month (Fig. 2).2

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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• Twenty-eight percent of Shamrock ISD 10th and 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).

• Lifetime use of inhalants was reported by 8* percent of Shamrock ISD students (Fig.
1), while none reported past-month inhalant use (Fig. 2).

• Twenty* percent of Shamrock ISD students reported using marijuana at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 7 percent said they had used marijuana during
the past month (Fig. 2).

• Shamrock ISD students are most likely to turn to friends for help with a drug or
alcohol problem (77 percent) and least likely to consult a counselor or program in
school (23 percent) (Fig. 17).

Tobacco

Over the last two years, the general use of tobacco (including cigarettes and smokeless products)
among 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students statewide has increased slightly.3 Overall, the general
use of tobacco products among Shamrock ISD students, especially with regard to the smokeless
variety, is somewhat higher than that reported by their counterparts statewide.

Sixty-five percent of Shamrock students reported general tobacco use at least once during their
lifetimes (58 percent statewide) (Fig. 1).4 Thirty-five percent of Shamrock ISD students said
they had used a tobacco product during the past month (28 percent statewide) (Fig. 2).
Sixty-two percent of Shamrock students reported smoking cigarettes at least once during their
lifetimes (56 percent statewide), and 33 percent said they had smoked cigarettes during the past
month (26 percent statewide). Smoking cigarettes on a daily basis was reported by 8 percent of
district students (9 percent statewide), and 16 percent of said most or all of their close friends
smoke cigarettes (22 percent statewide).

Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 35* percent of SISD students,
nearly double the rate reported by students statewide (18 percent). Nine percent of Shamrock
students said they had used a smokeless tobacco product during the past month (6 percent
statewide). Using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis was reported by 7 percent of

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.

4
Due to the small number of students surveyed in this district, no between-grade
comparisons can be made.

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district students, compared to 2 percent of students statewide. Six percent of SISD 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 Shamrock ISD.
Alcohol use among 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students statewide has decreased slightly from that
reported two years ago. Overall, Shamrock ISD students are drinking alcohol at rates higher
than those reported by their peers statewide.

Seventy-eight percent of Shamrock students reported consuming alcohol at least once during
their lifetimes (76 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Fifty-eight* percent of Shamrock ISD students
said they had consumed alcohol during the past month, in contrast to the 40 percent reported by
students statewide (Fig. 2).

The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by Shamrock students are beer (72 percent/59
percent statewide) and wine coolers (67 percent/62 percent statewide). Fifty-three* percent of
SISD students said they drink beer on a weekly or monthly basis (35 percent statewide), and 45
percent said they drink wine coolers weekly or monthly (32 percent statewide), rates 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. SISD students are "binge drinking" beer and wine coolers at rates
higher than those reported by their counterparts statewide. Sixty-two* percent of Shamrock ISD
students reported "binge drinking" beer at least once during their lifetimes (40 percent statewide),
while 44* percent said they usually drink five or more beers at a time on average when they drink
(21 percent statewide). Lifetime "binge drinking" of wine coolers was reported by 56 percent of
SISD students (41 percent statewide), while 32 percent said they usually drink five or more wine
coolers at a time on average when they drink (19 percent statewide).

Ten percent of Shamrock students reported attending at least one class during the past school
year while "drunk" (10 percent statewide) (Fig. 9). Twenty-eight percent of SISD 10th and 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 18 percent of 10th and 12th grade students statewide. Driving
while intoxicated four or more times during the past year was reported by 5 percent of district
10th and 12th graders (5 percent statewide) (Fig. 11).

Students were asked about the availability of alcohol, its use among friends, and its use at parties.
Eighty-six percent of Shamrock ISD students said beer, wine, wine coolers, or liquor were
somewhat easy or very easy to obtain (79 percent statewide). Fifty-seven* percent of district
students reported most or all of their close friends drink alcohol (40 percent statewide), and 61*
percent responded "from friends" when asked where they obtained alcohol most of the time or
always (42 percent statewide), rates higher than those reported by students statewide.

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"Difficulties of any kind" with friends because of one's own drinking was reported by 12 percent
of SISD students (10 percent statewide).

Sixty-two* percent of Shamrock students said alcohol was used at most or all of the parties they
attended in the past school year, a rate considerably higher than that reported by students
statewide (41 percent) (Fig. 13). Fifty-one percent of district students responded "at parties"
when asked where they obtain alcohol most of the time or always (46 percent statewide), while
19 percent of SISD students said they get alcohol "from the store" most of the time or always
(19 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 SISD students who had not been absent since the Fall
reported having used alcohol during the past month (48* percent/27 percent statewide) than did
district students who said they had missed four or more days of school (69* percent/47 percent
statewide), rates higher than those reported by students statewide. Eighty-two percent of the
Shamrock students who had experienced difficulties with school officials on four or more days
reported using alcohol during the past 30 days (65 percent statewide). By contrast, only 47
percent of district students who had not experienced difficulties with school officials because of
conduct problems had used alcohol within the past 30 days (27 percent statewide), rates higher
than those reported by their peers 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, 66 percent of Shamrock students
said their parents strongly or mildly disapprove, compared to 76 percent of students statewide.
Eight percent of district students said they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their
age drinking beer (8 percent statewide), and 18 percent said their parents neither approve nor
disapprove (11 percent statewide) (Fig. 15).

Inhalants5

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, 10th, and 12th grade students statewide stayed about the same.
Overall, Shamrock ISD students are using inhalants at rates lower than those reported by their
counterparts statewide.

Eight* percent of Shamrock students reported using inhalants at least once during their lifetimes,
less than half the rate reported students statewide (19 percent) (Fig. 1). None of the Shamrock
ISD students said they had used inhalants during the past month (5 percent statewide) (Fig. 2).
5
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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None of SISD students reported most or all of their close friends use inhalants (3 percent
statewide), but 1 percent said they had attended at least one class during the past school year
while "high" on inhalants (3 percent statewide). Four percent of SISD students said they had
used two or more different kinds of inhalant substances during their lifetimes, a rate somewhat
lower than that reported by students statewide (11 percent).

Five percent of Shamrock students reported inhaling correction fluid/Liquid Paper (9 percent
statewide), 4 percent reported inhaling substances in the "other inhalants" category (8 percent
statewide), 3 percent said they had inhaled liquid/spray paint (7 percent statewide), 1 percent
reported inhaling gasoline (5 percent statewide), and 1 percent said they had inhaled paint thinner
(5 percent statewide) at least once during their lifetimes (Fig. 7).

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, 10th, and 12th grade students statewide has
increased. The use of marijuana, the most frequently used illicit substance, has also increased
among 8th, 10th, and 12th graders statewide over the last two years.

In the Shamrock ISD, 24 percent of students reported use of illicit drugs at least once during
their lifetimes (36 percent statewide), while 10* percent of SISD students said they had used one
or more illicit substances three or more times (27 percent statewide), rates lower than those
reported by students statewide. Statewide, students who said they had used illicit drugs reported
using them an average of 2.4 times in the past 30 days and 7.0 times during their lives.
Shamrock students reported average usage rates of 0.9 times in the past month and 3.1 times
during their lifetimes.

Twenty* percent of SISD students reported using marijuana at least once in their lifetimes, a rate
lower than that reported by their counterparts statewide (33 percent) (Fig. 1). Past-month
marijuana use was reported by 7 percent of Shamrock ISD students (17 percent statewide) (Fig.
2).

Ten percent of SISD students reported attending at least one class in the past year while "stoned"
on marijuana (13 percent statewide) (Fig. 10). Driving under the influence of drugs at least once
during the past year was reported by 8 percent of Shamrock ISD 10th and 12th grade students
(13 percent statewide).

Fifty-eight percent of SISD students said marijuana was somewhat or very easy to obtain (56
percent statewide). Eleven* percent of Shamrock students reported most or all of their close
friends use marijuana, half the rate reported by their counterparts statewide (22 percent). One
percent of district students said they had gotten into "difficulties of any kind" with their friends
because of their own drug use (7 percent statewide). Eight* percent of the Shamrock ISD

5
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 considerably lower than that reported by students
statewide (25 percent).

When asked about parental attitudes toward marijuana use, Shamrock students reported a
disapproval rate of 83 percent (87 percent statewide). Seven percent of district students said
they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age using marijuana (7 percent
statewide), while 7 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (4 percent
statewide) (Fig. 15).

Other illicit substances are used by a small number of Shamrock ISD students. Three percent of
SISD students reported using uppers (9 percent statewide), 3 percent reported using downers (6
percent statewide), 2* percent said they had used hallucinogens (8 percent statewide), 2 percent
said they had used powdered cocaine (7 percent statewide), 2 percent reported using crack (3
percent statewide), and 2 percent said they had used steroids (2 percent statewide) at least once
during their lifetimes. None of the district student reported ever using ecstasy (6 percent
statewide) (Fig. 1).

CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH DRUG USE

Statewide, female students were somewhat less likely to have used drugs than were male
students. In the Shamrock ISD, male students were somewhat more likely to have used a
tobacco product, smoked marijuana, or used a downer than were district female students. In
addition, SISD male students were the only reported users of inhalants, powdered cocaine, crack,
hallucinogens, or steroids in the district. There were no other significant differences by gender
among SISD students with regard to the use of alcohol, uppers, or ecstasy.

When asked where they would go for help with a drug or alcohol problem, the largest percentage
of Shamrock students said they would seek help from their friends (77 percent/76 percent
statewide). Forty-five percent of SISD students said they would turn to their parents for help
with a drug or alcohol problem (54 percent statewide), and 44 percent said they would seek help
from an adult friend or relative (58 percent statewide). District students are least likely to seek
help from a counselor or program in school (23 percent/33 percent statewide) (Fig. 17). Since
school began in the Fall, 3 percent of Shamrock students reported seeking help for any problems
connected with alcohol or drug use from someone other than family or friends (6 percent
statewide).

Seventy-seven percent of Shamrock ISD students said they had gotten information about drugs
and alcohol from a school source since classes began in the Fall (73 percent statewide). "An
assembly program" was reported by 66* percent of district students as a source for information
about drugs and alcohol, a rate higher than that reported by students statewide (44 percent).
Forty-six percent of SISD students said "an invited school guest" was a source for information
about drugs and alcohol (38 percent statewide). Thirty-four percent of SISD students reported

6
getting information about drugs and alcohol from a "health class," compared to 43 percent of
students statewide.

The influence of drug education programs may be reflected in students' attitudes toward the use
of specific substances. Eighty-five percent of Shamrock students believe that crack use is "very
dangerous" (89 percent statewide), and 85 percent believe that powdered cocaine use is "very
dangerous" (87 percent statewide). Seventy-six percent of SISD students believe that inhalant
use is "very dangerous" (77 percent statewide). Sixty-seven percent of district students believe
that marijuana use is "very dangerous," a rate somewhat higher than that reported by students
statewide (58 percent). By contrast, the perceived danger of alcohol and tobacco use is lower.
Only 32 percent of SISD students feel that it is "very dangerous" to use alcohol (43 percent
statewide), while only 23 percent believe that tobacco use is "very dangerous" (36 percent
statewide), rates lower than those reported by their peers statewide (Fig. 13).