TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE

MILLSAP ISD

SECONDARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

OVERVIEW

In the Spring of 1995, 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 Millsap Independent School District (MISD). A total of
95 students completed the questionnaire, which asked about students' experiences with alcohol
and drugs. Of that number, 1 survey was excluded from analysis because the student did not
indicate a grade or an age, or because the student was identified as an exaggerator (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 94.1

Students' responses to the questionnaire indicate that:

•Sixty-six percent of Millsap ISD students reported using tobacco at least once during
their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 36 percent said they had used tobacco during the past
month (Fig. 2).

•Eleven percent of Millsap ISD students said they smoke cigarettes on a daily basis,
while 9* percent reported using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis.2

•Seventy-six percent of Millsap ISD students said they had used alcohol at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 45 percent reported using alcohol during the
past month (Fig. 2).

•Eleven percent of Millsap ISD students reported attending at least one class during the
past year while "drunk," and 32 percent of district 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."

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

•Nineteen percent of Millsap ISD students reported using marijuana at least once during
their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 9 percent said they had used marijuana during the
past month (Fig. 2).

•Millsap ISD students are most likely to turn to friends for help with a drug or alcohol
problem (83 percent) and least likely to consult another adult in school, such as a
nurse or teacher (25 percent) (Fig. 17).

Tobacco

Between 1992 and 1994, the general use of tobacco (including cigarettes and smokeless
products) among students statewide stayed much the same. 3 Overall, the general use of tobacco
products among Millsap ISD students is somewhat higher than that reported by their
counterparts statewide.

Sixty-six percent of Millsap students reported general tobacco use at least once during their
lifetimes, compared to 57 percent of students statewide (Fig. 1). 4 Thirty-six percent of Millsap
ISD students said they had used a tobacco product during the past month, a rate higher than that
reported by students statewide (26 percent) (Fig. 2).

Sixty percent of Millsap students reported smoking cigarettes at least once during their lifetimes
(55 percent statewide). Thirty-one percent of MISD students said they had smoked cigarettes
during the past month, a rate somewhat higher than that reported by their peers statewide (24
percent). Smoking cigarettes on a daily basis was reported by 11 percent of district students (8
percent statewide), while 22 percent said most or all of their close friends smoke cigarettes (21
percent statewide).

Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 36* percent of MISD students, a
rate higher than that reported by their counterparts statewide (19 percent). Sixteen* percent of
district students said they had used a smokeless tobacco product during the past month, a rate
also higher than that reported by their peers statewide (6 percent). Using a smokeless tobacco
product on a daily basis was reported by 9* percent of district students (2 percent statewide),
and 21 percent said most or all of their close friends use smokeless tobacco (6 percent
statewide), rates higher than those reported by students statewide.

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 1994.

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

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Alcohol

Alcohol is the most widely used substance among students statewide and in the Millsap ISD.
Alcohol use among secondary students in 1994 was similar to that reported in 1992. Overall,
Millsap ISD students are drinking alcohol at rates somewhat similar to those reported by their
peers statewide.

Seventy-six percent of Millsap students reported consuming alcohol at least once during their
lifetimes (78 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Forty-five percent of Millsap ISD students said they
had consumed alcohol during the past month (42 percent statewide) (Fig. 2).

The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by Millsap students are beer (75 percent/63
percent statewide) and wine coolers (68 percent/64 percent statewide). Forty-one percent of
MISD students said they drink beer on a weekly or monthly basis (40 percent statewide), and 32
percent said they drink wine coolers weekly or monthly (36 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-six percent of Millsap ISD students reported "binge
drinking" beer at least once during the past year (42 percent statewide). Thirty-six* percent of
district students said they usually drink five or more beers at a time on average when they drink,
a rate higher than that reported by their counterparts statewide (22 percent). Past-year "binge
drinking" of wine coolers was reported by 44 percent of MISD students (43 percent statewide),
while 24 percent said they usually drink five or more wine coolers at a time on average when
they drink (20 percent statewide).

Eleven percent of Millsap students reported attending at least one class during the past school
year while "drunk" (10 percent statewide) (Fig. 9). Thirty-two percent of MISD 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, a rate higher than that reported by 10th and 12th grade students statewide
(18 percent). Driving while intoxicated four or more times was reported by 13 percent of
district 10th and 12th graders, a rate somewhat higher than that reported by their counterparts
statewide (5 percent) (Fig. 11).

Students were asked about the availability of alcohol, its use among friends, and its use at
parties. Seventy-nine percent of Millsap ISD students said beer, wine, wine coolers, or liquor
were somewhat easy or very easy to obtain (80 percent statewide). Forty-four percent of
district students reported most or all of their close friends drink alcohol (44 percent statewide),
and 41 percent responded "from friends" when asked where they obtained alcohol most of the
time or always (44 percent statewide). "Difficulties of any kind" with friends because of one's
own drinking was reported by 17 percent of MISD students, a rate somewhat higher than that
reported by their peers statewide (10 percent).

Forty-seven percent of Millsap students said alcohol was used at most or all of the parties they
attended in the past school year (44 percent statewide) (Fig. 12). Forty-eight percent of district
students responded "at parties" when asked where they obtain alcohol most of the time or

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always (47 percent statewide), while 20 percent of MISD students said they get alcohol "from
the store" most of the time or always (23 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 been in trouble because of
conduct or attitude problems. Fewer MISD students who had not been absent since the Fall
reported having used alcohol during the past month (29 percent/29 percent statewide) than did
district students who said they had missed four or more days of school (51 percent/50 percent
statewide). Seventy-five* 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, a rate
somewhat higher than that reported by their counterparts statewide (66 percent). By contrast,
only 26 percent of district students who had not experienced difficulties with school officials
because of conduct problems had used alcohol within the past 30 days (29 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, 75 percent of Millsap students
said their parents strongly or mildly disapprove (76 percent statewide). Seven percent of district
students said they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age drinking beer (9
percent statewide), and 13 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (12 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. Between 1992 and
1994, use of inhalants among students statewide decreased somewhat. Overall, Millsap ISD
students are using inhalants at rates somewhat similar to those reported by their counterparts
statewide.

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

Three percent of MISD students reported most or all of their close friends use inhalants (3
percent statewide), and 4 percent said they had attended at least one class during the past school
year while "high" on inhalants (3 percent statewide). Twelve percent of MISD 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 Millsap students was correction fluid/Liquid
Paper (12 percent/10 percent statewide). Eight percent of district students reported inhaling
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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gasoline (6 percent statewide), 7 percent said they had inhaled glue (6 percent statewide), 6
percent reported inhaling substances in the "other inhalants" category (8 percent statewide), 5
percent said they had inhaled liquid/spray paint (7 percent statewide), 4 percent said they had
inhaled paint thinner (6 percent statewide), and 1 percent reported inhaling substances in the
"other sprays" category (4 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. Between
1992 and 1994, the use of illicit drugs among students statewide increased. The use of
marijuana, the most frequently used illicit substance, also increased among students statewide
over that two-year period.

In the Millsap ISD, 24 percent of students reported use of illicit drugs at least once during their
lifetimes (30 percent statewide), while 16 percent of MISD students said they had used one or
more illicit substances three or more times (21 percent statewide). Statewide, students who said
they had used illicit drugs reported using them an average of 1.6 times in the past 30 days and
4.7 times during their lives. Millsap students reported average usage rates of 1.2 times in the
past month and 4.6 times during their lifetimes.

Nineteen percent of MISD students reported using marijuana at least once in their lifetimes, a
rate somewhat lower than that reported by students statewide (28 percent) (Fig. 1). Past-month
marijuana use was reported by 9 percent of Millsap ISD students (13 percent statewide) (Fig.
2).

Seven percent of MISD students reported attending at least one class in the past year while
"stoned" on marijuana (10 percent statewide) (Fig. 10). Driving under the influence of drugs at
least once during the past year was reported by 13 percent of Millsap ISD 10th and 12th grade
students (9 percent statewide).

Forty-six percent of MISD students said marijuana was somewhat or very easy to obtain (52
percent statewide), and 12 percent reported most or all of their close friends use marijuana (17
percent statewide). One 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). Seventeen percent
of the Millsap ISD students said that marijuana and/or other drugs were used at most or all of
the parties they attended during the school year (19 percent statewide).

None of the Millsap ISD students who had not been absent since the Fall reported having used
marijuana during the past month (7 percent statewide), while 9 percent who said they had
missed four or more days of school reported using marijuana during the past month (16 percent
statewide). Two percent of district students who had not been in trouble with school officials
reported using marijuana within the past 30 days (5 percent statewide). By contrast, 34 percent

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of district students who had been in trouble with school officials on four or more days reported
using marijuana during the past 30 days (33 percent statewide).

When asked about parental attitudes toward marijuana use, Millsap students reported a
disapproval rate of 92 percent (88 percent statewide). Four percent of district students said they
"don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age using marijuana (7 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 Millsap ISD students. Eight percent of
MISD students said they had used hallucinogens (7 percent statewide), 7 percent reported using
uppers (8 percent statewide), 7 percent reported using downers (5 percent statewide), 4 percent
said they had used powdered cocaine (6 percent statewide), 4 percent said they had used
steroids (2 percent statewide), 2 percent reported using crack (2 percent statewide), and 2
percent reported using ecstasy (3 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
Millsap ISD, however, female students were somewhat more likely to have used an upper than
were their male counterparts in the district. There were no significant differences by gender
among MISD students with regard to the use of tobacco products, alcohol, inhalants, marijuana,
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. MISD students living in other family situations were
somewhat more likely to have used a tobacco product, nearly twice as likely to have used an
inhalant or smoked marijuana, and over two times more likely to have used an upper than were
those district students living in homes with two parents. There were no other significant
differences by living arrangement among Millsap ISD students with regard to the use of alcohol
or other illegal drugs.

When asked where they would go for help with a drug or alcohol problem, the largest
percentage of Millsap students, 83 percent, said they would seek help from their friends, a rate
somewhat higher than that reported by their counterparts statewide (76 percent). Fifty-seven
percent of MISD students said they would seek help from an adult friend or relative (57 percent
statewide), and 55 percent said they would turn to their parents (53 percent statewide). District
students are least likely to seek help from another adult in school, such as a teacher or nurse (25
percent/32 percent statewide) (Fig. 17). Since school began in the Fall, 5 percent of Millsap
students reported seeking help for any problems connected with alcohol or drug use from
someone other than family or friends (6 percent statewide).

Eighty-four percent of Millsap 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

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assembly program" was reported by 64 percent of district students as a source for information
about drugs and alcohol (54 percent statewide), and 64* percent said "an invited school guest"
was a source for this information (46 percent statewide), rates higher than those reported by
their counterparts statewide. Fifty percent of MISD students reported getting information about
drugs and alcohol from a "health class" (45 percent statewide).

The influence of drug education programs may be reflected in students' attitudes toward the use
of specific substances. Eighty-five percent of district students believe that powdered cocaine
use is "very dangerous" (90 percent statewide). Seventy-seven percent of Millsap students
believe that crack use is "very dangerous," a rate lower than that reported by their peers
statewide (91 percent). Seventy percent of MISD students believe that inhalant use is "very
dangerous," a rate somewhat lower than that reported by students statewide (77 percent).
Thirty-nine percent of Millsap ISD students believe that marijuana use is "very dangerous," a
rate lower than that reported by their counterparts statewide (66 percent). By contrast, the
perceived danger of alcohol and tobacco use is lower. Only 30 percent of MISD students
believe that tobacco use is "very dangerous," a rate somewhat lower than that reported by their
peers statewide (38 percent). Twenty-nine percent of MISD students feel that it is "very
dangerous" to use alcohol, a rate lower than that reported by their counterparts statewide (45
percent) (Fig. 13).