TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE

PHARR-SAN JUAN-ALAMO 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 Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District
(PSJAISD). A total of 1738 students completed the questionnaire, which asked about students'
experiences with alcohol and drugs. Of that number, 89 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 1664.1

Students' responses to the questionnaire indicate that:

•Forty-nine* percent of Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD students reported using tobacco at

least once during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 18* percent said they had used
tobacco during the past month (Fig. 2).2

•Three* percent of PSJAISD students said they smoke cigarettes on a daily basis, while
less than 1 percent reported using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis.

•Sixty-eight* percent of Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD students said they had used alcohol
at least once during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 34* percent reported using
alcohol during the past month (Fig. 2).

•Six* percent of PSJAISD students reported attending at least one class during the past
year while "drunk," and 13 percent of district 9th through 12th grade students

1
The percentages referred to in the executive summary were taken from the tables found in "Part I
(Standardized): District Survey Results." Sixth grade student participation in the secondary survey has been
eliminated throughout this report so that comparisons can be made with statewide data. 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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 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 13* percent of district students (Fig. 1),
while past-month inhalant use was reported by 3 percent (Fig. 2).

•Fifteen* percent of PSJAISD students reported using marijuana at least once during
their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 6* percent said they had used marijuana during the
past month (Fig. 2).

•Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD students are most likely to turn to friends for help with a
drug or alcohol problem (71 percent) and least likely to consult a medical doctor
(43* percent) or another adult in school, such as a teacher or nurse (44* 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 Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD students is somewhat lower than that
reported by their counterparts statewide.

Forty-nine* percent of Pharr-San Juan-Alamo 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 lowest among district 7th graders (36 percent/40 percent statewide) and
highest among PSJAISD 12th graders (58 percent/63 percent statewide). Forty-eight percent of
district 11th grade students reported using a tobacco product at least once during their lifetimes,
a rate lower than that reported by 11th grade students statewide (61 percent).

Eighteen* percent of Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD students said they had used a tobacco product
during the past month, compared to 24 percent of students statewide (Fig. 2). The rates of past-
month general tobacco use ranged from 13 percent of PSJAISD 7th grade students (16 percent
statewide) to 22 percent of district 10th grade students (27 percent statewide). Past-month use
of a tobacco product was reported by 15* percent of PSJAISD 11th graders (27 percent
statewide) and 20* percent of district 12th graders (31 percent statewide), rates lower than those
reported by their peers statewide.

Forty-seven* percent of Pharr-San Juan-Alamo students reported smoking cigarettes at least

once during their lifetimes (52 percent statewide), and 17* percent said they had smoked
cigarettes during the past month (22 percent statewide). Smoking cigarettes on a daily basis
was reported by 3* percent of district students (7 percent statewide). Daily cigarette use was
reported by 1* percent of Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD 11th graders (10 percent statewide) and
3* percent of district 12th graders (12 percent statewide), rates somewhat lower than those

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reported by their counterparts statewide. Sixteen* percent of PSJAISD students said most or all
of their close friends smoke cigarettes (19 percent statewide).

Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 11* percent of PSJAISD students,
a rate somewhat lower than that reported by students statewide (17 percent). Three* percent of
Pharr-San Juan-Alamo 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 less than 1 percent of district students (2 percent statewide), and 4 percent 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 Pharr-San Juan-
Alamo ISD. Alcohol use among secondary students statewide was similar to that reported two
years ago. Overall, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD students are drinking alcohol at rates somewhat
lower than those reported by their peers statewide.

Sixty-eight* percent of Pharr-San Juan-Alamo students reported consuming alcohol at least

once during their lifetimes, compared to 74 percent of students statewide (Fig. 1). Lifetime
alcohol use was lowest among PSJAISD 7th graders (51 percent/58 percent statewide) and
highest among district 12th graders (84 percent/86 percent statewide). Sixty-two* percent of
PSJAISD 8th graders (69 percent statewide) and 75* percent of district 11th graders (83 percent
statewide) reported lifetime alcohol use, rates somewhat lower than those reported by their
counterparts statewide (Fig. 3).

Thirty-four* percent of Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD students said they had consumed alcohol
during the past month (39 percent statewide) (Fig. 2). Current alcohol use was lowest among
PSJAISD 7th graders (22 percent/24 percent statewide) and highest among district 12th graders
(51 percent/52 percent statewide). Thirty-five* percent of PSJAISD 11th graders reported past-
month alcohol use, a rate lower than that reported by 11th graders statewide (48 percent) (Fig.
4).

The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by Pharr-San Juan-Alamo students are beer (54*
percent/59 percent statewide) and wine coolers (54* percent/61 percent statewide). Thirty*
percent of PSJAISD students said they drink beer on a weekly or monthly basis (37 percent
statewide), and 30* percent said they drink wine coolers weekly or monthly (34 percent
statewide), rates somewhat lower 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. Thirty-four* percent of Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD students
reported "binge drinking" beer at least once during the past year (39 percent statewide), while
18 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 35* percent of

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PSJAISD students (41 percent statewide), while 17 percent said they usually drink five or more
wine coolers at a time on average when they drink (19 percent statewide).

Six* percent of Pharr-San Juan-Alamo students reported attending at least one class during the
past school year while "drunk" (10 percent statewide). The rates of attending class while
intoxicated ranged from 5* percent of PSJAISD 12th graders (10 percent statewide) to 8
percent of district 8th graders (10 percent statewide) and 8 percent of Pharr-San Juan-Alamo
10th graders (11 percent statewide) (Figs. 9a and 9b).

Thirteen percent of PSJAISD 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).
Eighteen percent of Pharr-San Juan-Alamo 12th graders reported driving while intoxicated,
compared to 26 percent of 12th graders statewide. Driving while intoxicated four or more times
during the past year was reported by 4 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. Sixty-seven* percent of Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD students said beer, wine, wine
coolers, or liquor were somewhat easy or very easy to obtain, a rate lower than that reported by
students statewide (77 percent). Thirty-five* percent of district students reported most or all of
their close friends drink alcohol (40 percent statewide), and 33* percent responded "from
friends" when asked where they obtained alcohol most of the time or always (40 percent
statewide), rates somewhat lower than those reported by their peers statewide. "Difficulties of
any kind" with friends because of one's own drinking was reported by 8 percent of PSJAISD
students (10 percent statewide).

Thirty-five* percent of Pharr-San Juan-Alamo students said alcohol was used at most or all of
the parties they attended in the past school year (39 percent statewide). The highest rate of
alcohol use at most or all parties was reported by PSJAISD 12th graders (54 percent/62 percent
statewide). Forty-six* percent of district 11th graders said alcohol was used at most or all of the
parties they attended in the past school year, a rate lower than that reported by 11th graders
statewide (57 percent) (Figs. 12a and 12b). 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 PSJAISD 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 PSJAISD students who had not been absent since the Fall
reported having used alcohol during the past month (21 percent/26 percent statewide) than did
district students who said they had missed four or more days of school (42 percent/47 percent
statewide). Sixty-one* percent of the district 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 20* percent of district students who had not experienced

4
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, 73 percent of Pharr-San Juan-
Alamo students said their parents strongly or mildly disapprove (75 percent statewide).
Fourteen* percent of district students said they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids
their age drinking beer (10 percent statewide), and 8* percent said their parents neither approve
nor disapprove (11 percent statewide) (Fig. 15).

Inhalants3

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, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD
students are using inhalants at rates somewhat lower than those reported by their counterparts
statewide.

Thirteen* percent of Pharr-San Juan-Alamo students reported using inhalants at least once
during their lifetimes, a rate somewhat lower than that reported by students statewide (19
percent) (Fig. 1). Lifetime inhalant use reported by 13* percent of district 8th grade students
(24 percent statewide) and 9* percent of PSJAISD 10th grade students (17 percent statewide),
rates lower than those reported by their peers statewide (Figs. 5a and 5b).

Three percent of Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD students said they had used inhalants during the
past month (5 percent statewide) (Fig. 2). Two percent of PSJAISD 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 PSJAISD 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 Pharr-San Juan-Alamo students was correction
fluid/Liquid Paper (6* percent/10 percent statewide). Five* percent of district students said
they had inhaled liquid/spray paint (7 percent statewide), 5* percent reported inhaling
substances in the "other inhalants" category (8 percent statewide), and 4* percent said they had
inhaled glue (6 percent statewide) at least once during their lifetimes (Figs. 7a and 7b).

Illicit Drugs

3
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.

5
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 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 Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD, 17* percent of students reported use of illicit drugs at least
once during their lifetimes (28 percent statewide), while 11* percent of PSJAISD students said
they had used one or more illicit substances three or more times (19 percent statewide), rates
lower than those reported by their counterparts 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. Pharr-San Juan-Alamo students reported average usage rates of 1.0
times in the past month and 2.7 times during their lifetimes.

Fifteen* percent of PSJAISD students reported using marijuana at least once in their lifetimes, a
rate lower than that reported by students statewide (25 percent) (Fig. 1). Lifetime marijuana use
was highest among Pharr-San Juan-Alamo 9th graders (21* percent/28 percent statewide) and
lowest among district 7th graders (7* percent/13 percent statewide), rates somewhat lower than
those reported by their counterparts statewide. Sixteen* percent of PSJAISD 10th graders (30
percent statewide), 16* percent of district 11th graders (32 percent statewide) and 14* percent
of PSJAISD 12th graders (34 percent statewide) reported lifetime marijuana use, rates also
lower than those reported by their peers statewide (Figs. 5a and 5b).

Past-month marijuana use was reported by 6* percent of Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD students, a
rate somewhat lower than that reported by students statewide (12 percent) (Fig. 2). The rates of
current marijuana use ranged from 3* percent of Pharr-San Juan-Alamo 12th graders (14
percent statewide) and 3* percent of district 7th graders (6 percent statewide) to 9* percent of
PSJAISD 9th graders (14 percent statewide) (Figs. 6a and 6b).

Five* percent of PSJAISD students reported attending at least one class in the past year while
"stoned" on marijuana (9 percent statewide). The rates of attending class while stoned ranged
from 2* percent of Pharr-San Juan-Alamo 11th graders (10 percent statewide) to 10 percent of
district 9th graders (12 percent statewide) (Figs. 10a and 10b). Driving under the influence of
drugs at least once during the past year was reported by 4* percent Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD
9th through 12th grade students (8 percent statewide).

Thirty-six* percent of PSJAISD 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), rates lower than those reported by students 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).

Ten* percent of Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD students said that marijuana and/or other drugs
were used at most or all of the parties they attended during the school year, compared to 17
percent of students statewide. Marijuana and/or other drug use at most or all parties was

6
reported by 16 percent of district 10th graders (23 percent statewide). Twelve* percent of
PSJAISD 11th graders (25 percent statewide) and 7* percent of district 12th graders (24 percent
statewide) said that marijuana and/or other drugs were used at most or all of the parties they
attended during the school year, rates lower than those reported by their peers statewide.

When asked about parental attitudes toward marijuana use, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo students
reported a disapproval rate of 83* percent (87 percent statewide). Twelve* percent of district
students said they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age using marijuana (8
percent statewide), while 2 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (4 percent
statewide) (Fig. 15).

Other illicit substances are used by a small number of Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD students.
Seven* percent of PSJAISD students said they had used downers (5 percent statewide), 6
percent reported using uppers (7 percent statewide), and 5 percent said they had used powdered
cocaine (5 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
Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD, male students were somewhat more likely to have used marijuana
than were district female students. There were no other significant differences by gender
among PSJAISD students with regard to the use of tobacco, 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. PSJAISD students living in other family situations
were somewhat more likely to have used powdered cocaine, uppers, or downers and nearly two
times more likely to have used marijuana than were those district students living in homes with
two parents. There were no other significant differences by living arrangement among Pharr-
San Juan-Alamo ISD students with regard to the use of tobacco, alcohol, inhalants, or other
illegal drugs.

When asked where they would go for help with a drug or alcohol problem, the largest
percentage of Pharr-San Juan-Alamo students said they would seek help from their friends (71
percent/74 percent statewide). Sixty-one* percent of district students said they would turn to
their parents, a rate somewhat higher than that reported by students statewide (54 percent).
Fifty-eight percent of PSJAISD students said they would seek help from an adult friend or
relative (57 percent statewide). District students are least likely to seek help from a medical
doctor (43* percent/38 percent statewide) or another adult in school, such as a teacher or nurse
(44* percent/33 percent statewide) (Fig. 17). Since school began in the Fall, 8 percent of Pharr-
San Juan-Alamo students reported seeking help for any problems connected with alcohol or
drug use from someone other than family or friends (7 percent statewide).

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Eighty-one percent of Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD students said they had gotten information
about drugs and alcohol from a school source since classes began in the Fall (79 percent
statewide). Fifty-eight* percent of district students said "an invited school guest" was a source
for information about drugs and alcohol, compared to 46 percent of students statewide. Forty-
three percent of PSJAISD students reported getting information about drugs and alcohol from a
"health class" (46 percent statewide). "An assembly program" was reported by 38* percent of
district students as a source for this information, a rate lower than that reported by their peers
statewide (53 percent).

The influence of drug education programs may be reflected in students' attitudes toward the use
of specific substances. Ninety percent of Pharr-San Juan-Alamo students believe that crack use
is "very dangerous" (91 percent statewide), and 89 percent believe that powdered cocaine use is
"very dangerous" (90 percent statewide). Seventy-nine percent of PSJAISD students believe
that inhalant use is "very dangerous" (77 percent statewide). Seventy-seven* percent of district
students believe that marijuana use is "very dangerous," a rate higher than that reported by
students statewide (67 percent). By contrast, the perceived danger of alcohol and tobacco use is
lower. Only 50 percent of PSJAISD students feel that it is "very dangerous" to use alcohol (46
percent statewide), while 48* percent believe that tobacco use is "very dangerous" (41 percent
statewide) (Fig. 13).