TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE

QUITMAN 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 7 through 12 in the Quitman Independent School District (QISD). A total of
386 students completed the questionnaire, which asked about students' experiences with alcohol
and drugs. Of that number, 16 surveys were excluded from analysis because the 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 370.1

Students' responses to the questionnaire indicate that:

•Sixty percent of Quitman 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).2

•Twelve* percent of Quitman ISD students said they smoke cigarettes on a daily basis,
while 5* percent reported using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis.

•Seventy percent of Quitman ISD students said they had used alcohol at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 32* percent reported using alcohol during the
past month (Fig. 2).

•Five* percent of Quitman ISD students reported attending at least one class during the
past year while "drunk," and 16 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 16 percent of Quitman ISD students (Fig. 1),
while past-month inhalant use was reported by 2 percent (Fig. 2).

•Eighteen* percent of Quitman ISD students reported using marijuana at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 10 percent said they had used marijuana
during the past month (Fig. 2).

•Quitman ISD students are most likely to turn to friends for help with a drug or alcohol
problem (76 percent) and least likely to consult another adult in school (41*
percent) or a counselor or program in school (41 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 Quitman ISD students is somewhat higher than that reported by their
counterparts statewide.

Sixty percent of Quitman students reported general tobacco use at least once during their
lifetimes (55 percent statewide) (Fig. 1).4 Thirty-two* percent of Quitman ISD students said
they had used a tobacco product during the past month, a rate somewhat higher than that
reported by students statewide (24 percent) (Fig. 2).

Fifty-three percent of Quitman 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 12* percent
of district students (7 percent statewide), while 20 percent said most or all of their close friends
smoke cigarettes (19 percent statewide).

Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 33* percent of QISD students (17
percent statewide), while 14* percent said they had used a smokeless tobacco product during
the past month (6 percent statewide), rates higher than those reported by their counterparts
statewide. Using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis was reported by 5* percent of
district students (2 percent statewide), and 11* percent said most or all of their close friends use
smokeless tobacco (5 percent statewide).

Alcohol

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

Seventy percent of Quitman students reported consuming alcohol at least once during their
lifetimes (74 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Thirty-two* percent of Quitman ISD students said
they had consumed alcohol during the past month, a rate somewhat lower than that reported by
students statewide (39 percent) (Fig. 2).

The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by Quitman students are beer (55 percent/59
percent statewide) and wine coolers (52* percent/61 percent statewide). Twenty-eight* percent
of QISD students said they drink beer on a weekly or monthly basis (37 percent statewide), and
21* percent said they drink wine coolers weekly or monthly (34 percent statewide), rates lower
than those reported by their peers statewide.

"Binge drinking" is the consumption of five or more beers, wine coolers, servings of wine, or
drinks with liquor at one time. Thirty-nine percent of Quitman ISD students reported "binge
drinking" beer at least once during the past year (39 percent statewide), while 22 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 34 percent of QISD
students (41 percent statewide), while 16 percent said they usually drink five or more wine
coolers at a time on average when they drink (19 percent statewide).

Five* percent of Quitman students reported attending at least one class during the past school
year while "drunk" (10 percent statewide) (Fig. 9). Sixteen percent of QISD 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 3 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-four percent of Quitman ISD students said beer, wine, wine coolers, or liquor
were somewhat easy or very easy to obtain (77 percent statewide). Thirty* percent of district
students reported most or all of their close friends drink alcohol, a rate lower than that reported
by students statewide (40 percent). Thirty-seven percent of QISD students 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 7 percent of Quitman students (10 percent statewide).

Thirty-four percent of QISD students said alcohol was used at most or all of the parties they
attended in the past school year (39 percent statewide) (Fig. 12). Thirty-nine percent of district
students responded "at parties" when asked where they obtain alcohol most of the time or
always (44 percent statewide). Nine* percent of QISD students said they get alcohol "from the

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store" most of the time or always, a rate lower than that reported by students statewide (21
percent).

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 QISD students who had not been absent since the Fall
reported having used alcohol during the past month (11* percent/26 percent statewide) than did
district students who said they had missed four or more days of school (38 percent/47 percent
statewide). Sixty-six 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 21 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, 77 percent of Quitman students
said their parents strongly or mildly disapprove (75 percent statewide). Seven percent of district
students said they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age drinking beer (10
percent statewide), and 11 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. Between 1992 and
1994, use of inhalants among students statewide decreased. Overall, Quitman ISD students are
using inhalants at rates similar to those reported by their counterparts statewide.

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

One percent of QISD students reported most or all of their close friends use inhalants (3 percent
statewide), and 3 percent said they had attended at least one class during the past school year
while "high" on inhalants (3 percent statewide). Nine percent of QISD 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 Quitman students was correction fluid/Liquid
Paper (10 percent/10 percent statewide). Seven percent of district students reported inhaling
gasoline (6 percent statewide), 5 percent said they had inhaled liquid/spray paint (7 percent
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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statewide), 5 percent reported inhaling substances in the "other inhalants" category (8 percent
statewide), 4 percent said they had inhaled glue (6 percent statewide), and 4 percent said they
had inhaled paint thinner (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. 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 Quitman ISD, 20* percent of students reported use of illicit drugs at least once during
their lifetimes, a rate somewhat lower than that reported by their peers statewide (28 percent).
Sixteen percent of QISD 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.
Quitman students reported average usage rates of 1.2 times in the past month and 3.5 times
during their lifetimes.

Eighteen* percent of QISD students reported using marijuana at least once in their lifetimes, a
rate somewhat lower than that reported by students statewide (25 percent) (Fig. 1). Past-month
marijuana use was reported by 10 percent of Quitman ISD students (12 percent statewide) (Fig.
2).

Ten percent of QISD 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 11 percent of Quitman ISD 9th through 12th
grade students (8 percent statewide).

Forty-three percent of QISD students said marijuana was somewhat or very easy to obtain (48
percent statewide). Eleven* percent of Quitman students reported most or all of their close
friends use marijuana, a rate somewhat lower than that reported by their counterparts statewide
(17 percent). Six 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
Quitman ISD 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 somewhat lower than that reported by
students statewide (17 percent).

Fewer Quitman ISD students who had not been absent since the Fall reported having used
marijuana during the past month (3 percent/6 percent statewide) than did district students who
said they had missed four or more days of school (11 percent/15 percent statewide). Three
percent of district students who had not gotten into trouble with school officials reported using
marijuana within the past 30 days (4 percent statewide). By contrast, 26 percent of district

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students who had gotten into trouble with school officials on four or more days reported using
marijuana during the past 30 days (31 percent statewide).

When asked about parental attitudes toward marijuana use, Quitman students reported a
disapproval rate of 89 percent (87 percent statewide). Four* percent of district students said
they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age using marijuana (8 percent
statewide), while 5 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (4 percent
statewide) (Fig. 15).

Other illicit substances are used by a small number of Quitman ISD students. Eight percent of
QISD students reported using uppers (7 percent statewide), 5 percent said they had used
hallucinogens (6 percent statewide), 4 percent reported using downers (5 percent statewide), 4
percent said they had used powdered cocaine (5 percent statewide), 3 percent reported using
ecstasy (3 percent statewide), 2 percent reported using crack (2 percent statewide), and 2
percent said they had used steroids (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
Quitman ISD, male students were somewhat more likely to report marijuana use than were
district female students. There were no other significant differences by gender among QISD
students with regard to the use of tobacco products, 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. QISD students living in other family situations were
somewhat more likely to report inhalant use and more than twice as likely to report marijuana
use than were those district students living in homes with two parents. There were no other
significant differences by living arrangement among Quitman ISD students with regard to the
use of tobacco products, alcohol, or other illegal drugs.

When asked where they would go for help with a drug or alcohol problem, the largest
percentage of Quitman students said they would seek help from their friends (76 percent/74
percent statewide). Sixty-four percent of QISD students said they would seek help from an
adult friend or relative (57 percent statewide). Sixty-three* percent of Quitman students said
they would turn to their parents, a rate somewhat higher than that reported by students statewide
(54 percent). District students are least likely to seek help from a counselor or program in
school (41 percent/35 percent statewide) or another adult in school, such as a teacher or nurse
(41* percent/33 percent statewide) (Fig. 17). Since school began in the Fall, 3* percent of
Quitman 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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Ninety-one* percent of Quitman ISD students said they had gotten information about drugs and
alcohol from a school source since classes began in the Fall, compared to 79 percent of students
statewide. "An assembly program" was reported by 80* percent of district students as a source
for information about drugs and alcohol (53 percent statewide), while 76* percent said "an
invited school guest" was a source for this information (46 percent statewide). Fifty-six*
percent of QISD 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-one percent of Quitman 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-three percent of QISD students believe that
inhalant use is "very dangerous" (77 percent statewide), and 67 percent believe that marijuana
use is "very dangerous" (67 percent statewide). By contrast, the perceived danger of alcohol
and tobacco use is lower. Only 47 percent of QISD students feel that it is "very dangerous" to
use alcohol (46 percent statewide). Twenty-six* percent of district students believe that tobacco
use is "very dangerous," a rate lower than that reported by students statewide (41 percent) (Fig.
13).