TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE

KERENS ISD

SECONDARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

OVERVIEW

In the Spring of 1994, 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 Kerens Independent School District (KISD). A total of
243 students completed the questionnaire, which asked about students' experiences with alcohol
and drugs. Of that number, 228 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 15.1

Students' responses to the questionnaire indicate that:

•Sixty-one percent of Kerens 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).

•Eleven percent of KISD students said they smoke cigarettes on a daily basis, while 6*
percent reported using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis.2

•Seventy-nine percent of Kerens ISD students said they had used alcohol at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 44 percent reported using alcohol during the past
month (Fig. 2).

•Fourteen percent of KISD students reported attending at least one class during the past year
while "drunk," and 18 percent of district 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."

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 14 percent of district students (Fig. 1), while
past-month inhalant use was reported by 3 percent (Fig. 2).

•Twenty-two percent of KISD students reported using marijuana at least once during their
lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 11 percent said they had used marijuana during the past
month (Fig. 2).

•Kerens ISD students are most likely to turn to friends for help with a drug or alcohol
problem (74 percent) and least likely to consult a counselor or program in school
(32 percent) (Fig. 17).

Tobacco

Over the last two years, the general use of tobacco (including cigarettes and smokeless
products) among students statewide has stayed much the same. Overall, the general use of
tobacco products among Kerens ISD students is similar to that reported by their counterparts
statewide.

Sixty-one percent of Kerens students reported general tobacco use at least once during their
lifetimes (55 percent statewide) (Fig. 1).3 Thirty-two percent of Kerens ISD students said they
had used a tobacco product during the past month (24 percent statewide) (Fig. 2).

Fifty-six percent of Kerens students reported smoking cigarettes at least once during their
lifetimes (52 percent statewide), and 26 percent said they had smoked cigarettes during the past
month (22 percent statewide). Smoking cigarettes on a daily basis was reported by 11 percent
of district students (7 percent statewide), while 18 percent said most or all of their close friends
smoke cigarettes (19 percent statewide).

Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 26* percent of KISD students (17
percent statewide), while 12* percent said they had used a smokeless tobacco product during
the past month (6 percent statewide), rates higher than those reported by students statewide.
Using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis was reported by 6* percent of district
students (2 percent statewide), and 8 percent said most or all of their close friends use smokeless
tobacco (5 percent), rates somewhat higher than those reported by students statewide.

Alcohol

Alcohol is the most widely used substance among students statewide and in the Kerens ISD.
Alcohol use among secondary students statewide was similar to that reported two years ago.
Overall, Kerens ISD students are drinking alcohol at rates similar to those reported by their
peers statewide.

3
Due to the small number of students surveyed in this district, no between-grade comparisons can be made.

2
Seventy-nine percent of Kerens students reported consuming alcohol at least once during their
lifetimes (74 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Forty-four percent of Kerens ISD students said they
had consumed alcohol during the past month (39 percent statewide) (Fig. 2).

The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by Kerens students are beer (59 percent/59
percent statewide) and wine coolers (64 percent/61 percent statewide). Thirty-nine percent of
KISD students said they drink beer on a weekly or monthly basis (37 percent statewide), and 37
percent said they drink wine coolers weekly or monthly (34 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-seven percent of Kerens ISD students reported "binge
drinking" beer at least once during the past year (39 percent statewide), while 30* percent said
they usually drink five or more beers at a time on average when they drink (20 percent
statewide). Past-year "binge drinking" of wine coolers was reported by 42 percent of KISD
students (41 percent statewide), while 28* percent said they usually drink five or more wine
coolers at a time on average when they drink (19 percent statewide).

Fourteen percent of Kerens students reported attending at least one class during the past school
year while "drunk" (10 percent statewide) (Fig. 9). Eighteen percent of KISD 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 (15 percent statewide). Driving while intoxicated four or more times
during the past year was reported by 2 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 percent of Kerens ISD students said beer, wine, wine coolers, or liquor were
somewhat easy or very easy to obtain (77 percent statewide). Thirty-eight percent of district
students reported most or all of their close friends drink alcohol (40 percent statewide), and 46
percent responded "from friends" when asked where they obtained alcohol most of the time or
always (40 percent statewide). "Difficulties of any kind" with friends because of one's own
drinking was reported by 10 percent of KISD students (10 percent statewide).

Thirty-seven percent of Kerens students said alcohol was used at most or all of the parties they
attended in the past school year (39 percent statewide) (Fig. 12). Forty-three percent of district
students responded "at parties" when asked where they obtained alcohol most of the time or
always (44 percent statewide), while 16 percent of KISD students said they get alcohol "from
the store" most of the time or always (21 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 KISD students who had not been absent since the Fall
reported having used alcohol during the past month (31 percent/26 percent statewide) than did
district students who said they had missed four or more days of school (49 percent/47 percent
statewide). Sixty-three percent of the district students who had experienced difficulties with

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school officials on four or more days reported using alcohol during the past 30 days (65 percent
statewide). By contrast, only 35* percent of district students who had not experienced
difficulties with school officials because of conduct problems had used alcohol within the past
30 days (26 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, 70 percent of Kerens students
said their parents strongly or mildly disapprove (75 percent statewide). Twelve percent of
district students said they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age drinking beer
(10 percent statewide), and 14 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (11
percent statewide) (Fig. 15).

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 students statewide decreased. Overall, Kerens ISD students are using
inhalants at rates similar to those reported by their counterparts statewide.

Fourteen percent of Kerens students reported using inhalants at least once during their lifetimes
(19 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Three percent of Kerens ISD students said they had used
inhalants during the past month (5 percent statewide) (Fig. 2).

One percent of KISD students reported most or all of their close friends use inhalants (3 percent
statewide), and 2 percent said they had attended at least one class during the past school year
while "high" on inhalants (3 percent statewide). Eight percent of KISD students said they had
used two or more different kinds of inhalant substances during their lifetimes (12 percent
statewide).

The inhalant substance most frequently used by Kerens students was correction fluid/Liquid
Paper (7 percent/10 percent statewide). Six percent of district students said they had inhaled
glue (6 percent statewide), 6 percent reported inhaling substances in the "other inhalants"
category (8 percent statewide), and 5 percent reported inhaling gasoline (6 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

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
last 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 Kerens ISD, 23 percent of students reported use of illicit drugs at least once during their
lifetimes (28 percent statewide), while 15 percent of KISD students said they had used one or
more illicit substances three or more times (19 percent statewide). Statewide, students who said
they had used illicit drugs reported using them an average of 1.4 times in the past 30 days and
4.2 times during their lives. Kerens students reported average usage rates of 1.0 times in the
past month and 3.1 times during their lifetimes.

Twenty-two percent of KISD students reported using marijuana at least once in their lifetimes
(25 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Past-month marijuana use was reported by 11 percent of
Kerens ISD students (12 percent statewide) (Fig. 2).

Eight percent of KISD students reported attending at least one class in the past year while
"stoned" on marijuana (9 percent statewide) (Fig. 10). Driving under the influence of drugs at
least once during the past year was reported by 9 percent of Kerens ISD 9th through 12th grade
students (8 percent statewide).

Forty-one percent of KISD students said marijuana was somewhat or very easy to obtain (48
percent statewide), and 10 percent reported most or all of their close friends use marijuana (17
percent statewide). Four percent of district students said they had gotten into "difficulties of
any kind" with their friends because of their own drug use (5 percent statewide).

Eleven* percent of the Kerens ISD students said that marijuana and/or other drugs were used at
most or all of the parties they attended during the school year (17 percent statewide).

When asked about parental attitudes toward marijuana use, Kerens students reported a
disapproval rate of 85 percent (87 percent statewide). Ten percent of district students said they
"don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age using marijuana (8 percent statewide),
while 3 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (4 percent statewide) (Fig.
15).

Uppers are the next most frequently used illicit substance among Kerens ISD students (3
percent/7 percent statewide). Two percent of district students reported using downers (5
percent statewide), 2* percent said they had used powdered cocaine (5 percent statewide), and 2
percent reported using crack (2 percent statewide) at least once during their lifetimes (Fig. 1).

CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH DRUG USE

Statewide, female students were less likely to have used drugs than were male students. In the
Kerens ISD, male students were somewhat more likely to have used inhalants or marijuana than
were district female students, and district males were the only students to report steroids use.

5
There were no other significant differences by gender among KISD students with regard to
tobacco, alcohol, or other illicit drug use.

In the statewide survey, students living in two-parent homes reported lower drug use than did
students living in other family situations. KISD students living in other family situations were
over twice as likely to have used marijuana than were those district students living in homes
with two parents. On the other hand, district students living in two-parent homes were the only
reported users of hallucinogens. There were no other significant differences by living
arrangement among Kerens ISD students with regard to tobacco, alcohol, or other illegal drug
use.

When asked where they would go for help with a drug or alcohol problem, the largest
percentage of Kerens students said they would seek help from their friends (74 percent/74
percent statewide). Sixty-one percent of KISD students said they would seek help from an
adult friend or relative (57 percent statewide), and 54 percent said they would turn to their
parents (54 percent statewide). District students are least likely to seek help from a counselor or
program in school (32 percent/35 percent statewide) (Fig. 17). Since school began in the Fall, 8
percent of Kerens students reported seeking help for any problems connected with alcohol or
drug use from someone other than family or friends (7 percent statewide).

Sixty-five* percent of Kerens ISD students said they had gotten information about drugs and
alcohol from a school source since classes began in the Fall (79 percent statewide). "An
assembly program" was reported by 32* percent of district students as a source for this
information (53 percent statewide), while 24* percent said "an invited school guest" was a
source for drug and alcohol information (46 percent statewide). Forty percent of KISD students
reported getting information about drugs and alcohol from a "health class" (46 percent
statewide).

The influence of drug education programs may be reflected in students' attitudes toward the use
of specific substances. Ninety percent of Kerens students believe that crack use is "very
dangerous" (91 percent statewide), and 87 percent believe that powdered cocaine use is "very
dangerous" (90 percent statewide). Seventy-seven percent of KISD students believe that
inhalant use is "very dangerous" (77 percent statewide), and 73 percent believe that marijuana
use is "very dangerous" (67 percent statewide). By contrast, the perceived danger of alcohol
and tobacco use is lower. Only 41 percent of KISD students feel that it is "very dangerous" to
use alcohol (46 percent statewide), while 29* percent believe that tobacco use is "very
dangerous" (41 percent statewide) (Fig. 13).