TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE

HARLETON 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 Harleton Independent School District (HISD). A total of
216 students completed the questionnaire, which asked about students' experiences with alcohol
and drugs. Of that number, 19 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 197.1

Students' responses to the questionnaire indicate that:

•Fifty-nine percent of Harleton ISD students reported using tobacco at least once during
their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 31 percent said they had used tobacco during the past
month (Fig. 2).2

•Six percent of HISD students said they smoke cigarettes on a daily basis, while 10*
percent reported using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis.

•Sixty-seven percent of Harleton ISD students said they had used alcohol at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 33 percent reported using alcohol during the
past month (Fig. 2).

•Five percent of HISD 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 13 percent of district students (Fig. 1), while
past-month inhalant use was reported by 3 percent (Fig. 2).

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

•Harleton ISD students are most likely to turn to friends for help with a drug or alcohol
problem (80 percent) and least likely to consult a medical doctor (36 percent), a
counselor or program in school (37 percent), or another adult in school (37
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 Harleton ISD students is somewhat higher than that reported by their
counterparts statewide.

Fifty-nine percent of Harleton students reported general tobacco use at least once during their
lifetimes (55 percent statewide) (Fig. 1).3 Thirty-one percent of Harleton ISD students said they
had used a tobacco product during the past month, a rate somewhat higher than that reported by
their counterparts statewide (24 percent) (Fig. 2).

Fifty-one percent of Harleton students reported smoking cigarettes at least once during their
lifetimes (52 percent statewide), and 18 percent said they had smoked cigarettes during the past
month (22 percent statewide). Smoking cigarettes on a daily basis was reported by 6 percent of
district students (7 percent statewide), while 9* percent said most or all of their close friends
smoke cigarettes (19 percent statewide).

Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 32* percent of HISD students (17
percent statewide), while 18* percent 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 10* percent of district students (2 percent statewide), and 18* percent said most or
all of their close friends use smokeless tobacco (5 percent statewide), rates higher than those
reported by their peers statewide.

Alcohol

3 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 Harleton ISD.
Alcohol use among secondary students statewide was similar to that reported two years ago.
Overall, Harleton ISD students are drinking alcohol at rates somewhat lower than those reported
by their peers statewide.

Sixty-seven percent of Harleton students reported consuming alcohol at least once during their
lifetimes, compared to 74 percent of students statewide (Fig. 1). Thirty-three percent of
Harleton 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 Harleton students are beer (47* percent/59
percent statewide) and wine coolers (51 percent/61 percent statewide), rates lower than those
reported by their counterparts statewide. Twenty-seven* percent of HISD students said they
drink beer on a weekly or monthly basis (37 percent statewide), and 25 percent said they drink
wine coolers weekly or monthly (34 percent statewide), rates also 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-four percent of Harleton ISD students reported "binge
drinking" beer at least once during the past year (39 percent statewide), while 20 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 31 percent of HISD
students (41 percent statewide), while 19 percent said they usually drink five or more wine
coolers at a time on average when they drink (19 percent statewide).

Five percent of Harleton students reported attending at least one class during the past school
year while "drunk" (10 percent statewide) (Fig. 9). Eighteen percent of HISD 9th through 12th
grade students said 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 6 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-one percent of Harleton ISD students said beer, wine, wine coolers, or liquor
were somewhat easy or very easy to obtain, compared to 77 percent of students statewide.
Twenty-eight* percent of district students reported most or all of their close friends drink
alcohol (40 percent statewide), and 30* percent responded "from friends" when asked where
they obtained alcohol most of the time or always (40 percent statewide), rates lower than those
reported by their counterparts statewide. "Difficulties of any kind" with friends because of
one's own drinking was reported by 7 percent of HISD students (10 percent statewide).

Twenty-eight* percent of Harleton students said alcohol was used at most or all of the parties
they attended in the past school year, compared to 39 percent of students statewide (Fig. 12).
Thirty-five percent of district students responded "at parties" when asked where they obtain
alcohol most of the time or always (44 percent statewide), while 9* percent of HISD students

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said they get alcohol "from the store" most of the time or always (21 percent statewide), rates
lower than those reported by students 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 HISD students who had not been absent since the Fall
reported having used alcohol during the past month (23 percent/26 percent statewide) than did
district students who said they had missed four or more days of school (37 percent/47 percent
statewide). Sixty-four 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 19 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, 87* percent of Harleton students
said their parents strongly or mildly disapprove, a rate higher than that reported by their peers
statewide (75 percent). Three* percent of district students said they "don't know" how their
parents feel about kids their age drinking beer, compared to 10 percent of students statewide.
Seven percent of HISD students said their parents neither approve nor disapprove of kids their
age drinking beer (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, Harleton ISD students are using
inhalants at rates somewhat lower than those reported by their counterparts statewide.

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

One percent of HISD students reported most or all of their close friends use inhalants (3 percent
statewide), while none of the students said they had attended class during the past school year
while "high" on inhalants (3 percent statewide). Nine percent of HISD 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 Harleton students was correction fluid/Liquid
Paper (9 percent/10 percent statewide). Seven percent of district students reported inhaling
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.

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gasoline (6 percent statewide), 5 percent said they had inhaled glue (6 percent statewide), 4
percent said they had inhaled paint thinner (6 percent statewide), 3 percent said they had inhaled
liquid/spray paint (7 percent statewide), and 3* percent reported inhaling substances in the
"other inhalants" category (8 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 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 Harleton ISD, 14* percent of students reported use of illicit drugs at least once during
their lifetimes (28 percent statewide), while 7* percent of HISD 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. Harleton students reported average usage rates of 0.6 times in the past month and 1.6
times during their lifetimes.

Eleven* percent of HISD students reported using marijuana at least once in their lifetimes, a
rate lower than that reported by their peers statewide (25 percent) (Fig. 1). Past-month
marijuana use was reported by 2* percent of Harleton ISD students, compared to 12 percent of
students statewide (Fig. 2).

One* percent of HISD students reported attending at least one class in the past year while
"stoned" on marijuana, a rate somewhat lower than that reported by students statewide (9
percent) (Fig. 10). Driving under the influence of drugs at least once during the past year was
reported by 2 percent of Harleton ISD 9th through 12th grade students, compared to 8 percent
of their 9th through 12th grade counterparts statewide.

Twenty-nine* percent of HISD students said marijuana was somewhat or very easy to obtain
(38 percent statewide), and 1* percent reported most or all of their close friends use marijuana
(17 percent statewide), rates lower than those reported by students statewide. Two 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). Four* percent of Harleton 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 lower than that reported by their peers statewide (17 percent).

When asked about parental attitudes toward marijuana use, Harleton students reported a
disapproval rate of 95* percent, compared to 87 percent of students statewide. Three percent of
district students said they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age using

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marijuana (8 percent statewide), while 1 percent said their parents neither approve nor
disapprove (4 percent statewide) (Fig. 17).

Other illicit substances are used by a small number of Harleton ISD students. Five percent of
HISD students reported using uppers (7 percent statewide), 2* percent said they had used
hallucinogens (6 percent statewide), 2 percent reported using downers (5 percent statewide), 2*
percent said they had used powdered cocaine (5 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
Harleton ISD, male students were somewhat more likely to have used tobacco or inhalants and
were over three times more likely to have used marijuana than were district female students. In
addition, district male students were the only students to report use of crack, hallucinogens,
steroids, or ecstasy. There were no other significant differences by gender among HISD
students with regard to the use of alcohol, powdered cocaine, uppers, or downers.

Statewide, students making A and B grades reported lower drug use than did students making
C, D, and F grades. In the Harleton ISD, students reporting lower grades were nearly twice as
likely to have used a tobacco product or marijuana than were those students making A and B
grades. On the other hand, those HISD students reporting A and B grades were the only
reported users of powdered cocaine or ecstasy. There were no other significant differences by
grade average among HISD students with regard to the use of 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. HISD students living in other family situations were
somewhat more likely to have used a tobacco product and more than twice as likely to have
used marijuana than were those district students living in homes with two parents. Conversely,
those district students living in two-parent homes were somewhat more likely to have used
inhalants than were those HISD students living in other family situations, and they were also the
only reported users of powdered cocaine. There were no other significant differences by living
arrangement among Harleton ISD students with regard to the use of alcohol, inhalants, or other
illegal drugs.

When asked where they would go for help with a drug or alcohol problem, the largest
percentage of Harleton students said they would seek help from their friends (80 percent/74
percent statewide). Fifty-eight percent of HISD 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 medical
doctor (36 percent/38 percent statewide), a counselor or program in school (37 percent/35
percent statewide), or another adult in school, such as a nurse or teacher (37 percent/33 percent

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statewide) (Fig. 17). Since school began in the Fall, 4 percent of Harleton students reported
seeking help for any problems connected with alcohol or drug use from someone other than
family or friends (7 percent statewide).

Eighty-three percent of Harleton 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 71* percent of district students as a source for information
about drugs and alcohol (53 percent statewide), while 58* percent said "an invited school guest"
was a source for this information (46 percent statewide), rates higher than those reported by
their counterparts statewide. Thirty-six percent of HISD students reported getting information
about drugs and alcohol from a "health class," a rate somewhat lower than that reported by
students statewide (46 percent).

The influence of drug education programs may be reflected in students' attitudes toward the use
of specific substances. Ninety-five percent of Harleton students believe that crack use is "very
dangerous" (91 percent statewide), and 93 percent believe that powdered cocaine use is "very
dangerous" (90 percent statewide). Eighty-six percent of HISD students believe that inhalant
use is "very dangerous" (77 percent statewide). Eighty-three* percent of district students
believe that marijuana use is "very dangerous," compared to 67 percent of students statewide.
By contrast, the perceived danger of alcohol and tobacco use is lower. Only 45 percent of
HISD students feel that it is "very dangerous" to use alcohol (46 percent statewide). Twenty-
eight* percent of Harleton ISD students believe that tobacco use is "very dangerous," a rate
lower than that reported by students statewide (41 percent) (Fig. 13).