TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE

BAY CITY 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 9 through 12 in the Bay City Independent School District (BCISD). A total
of 920 students completed the questionnaire, which asked about students' experiences with
alcohol and drugs. Of that number, 47 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 873.1

Students' responses to the questionnaire indicate that:

•Sixty percent of Bay City ISD students reported using tobacco at least once during their
lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 29 percent said they had used tobacco during the past
month (Fig. 2).

•Ten percent of BCISD students said they smoke cigarettes on a daily basis, while 1
percent reported using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis.

•Eighty-one percent of Bay City ISD students said they had used alcohol at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 51* percent reported using alcohol during the
past month (Fig. 2).2

•Eleven percent of BCISD students reported attending at least one class during the past
year while "drunk," and 20* percent of district 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 18 percent of district students (Fig. 1), while
past-month inhalant use was reported by 3 percent (Fig. 2).

•Thirty-five percent of BCISD students reported using marijuana at least once during
their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 16 percent said they had used marijuana during the
past month (Fig. 2).

•Bay City ISD students are most likely to turn to friends for help with a drug or alcohol
problem (74 percent) and least likely to seek help from another adult in school
(28 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 Bay City ISD students is similar to that reported by their counterparts
statewide.

Sixty percent of Bay City students reported general tobacco use at least once during their
lifetimes (60 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). The rates of lifetime general tobacco use ranged from
57 percent of BCISD 10th graders (60 percent statewide) to 64 percent of district 12th graders
(63 percent statewide).

Twenty-nine percent of Bay City ISD students said they had used a tobacco product during the
past month (27 percent statewide) (Fig. 2). The rates of general tobacco use ranged from 22
percent of district 10th grade students (27 percent statewide) to 33 percent of BCISD 9th grade
students (26 percent statewide).

Fifty-seven percent of Bay City students reported smoking cigarettes at least once during their
lifetimes (57 percent statewide), and 27 percent said they had smoked cigarettes during the past
month (25 percent statewide). Smoking cigarettes on a daily basis was reported by 10 percent
of district students (9 percent statewide). Daily cigarette use was reported by 12 percent of Bay
City ISD 11th graders (10 percent statewide). Nineteen percent of district students said most or
all of their close friends smoke cigarettes (22 percent statewide).

Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 20 percent of BCISD students (19
percent statewide), while 6 percent said they had used a smokeless tobacco product during the
past month (7 percent statewide). Using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis was
reported by 1 percent of district students (2 percent statewide), and 5 percent said most or all of
their close friends use smokeless tobacco (6 percent statewide).

Alcohol

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

Eighty-one percent of Bay City students reported consuming alcohol at least once during their
lifetimes, the same rate reported by students statewide (Fig. 1). The rates of lifetime alcohol
use ranged from 79 percent of BCISD 9th graders (76 percent statewide) to 88 percent of
district 12th graders (86 percent statewide) (Fig. 3).

Fifty-one percent of Bay City ISD students said they had consumed alcohol during the past
month (46 percent statewide) (Fig. 2). Current alcohol use was lowest among BCISD 9th
graders (47 percent/41 percent statewide) and highest among district 12th graders (61*
percent/52 percent statewide), rates somewhat higher than those reported by their peers
statewide (Fig. 4).

The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by Bay City students are beer (68 percent/67
percent statewide) and wine coolers (71 percent/68 percent statewide). Fifty-one* percent of
BCISD students said they drink beer on a weekly or monthly basis (43 percent statewide), and
47* percent said they drink wine coolers weekly or monthly (38 percent statewide), rates higher
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. Forty-six percent of Bay City ISD students reported "binge
drinking" beer at least once during the past year (45 percent statewide), and 28* percent said
they usually drink five or more beers at a time on average when they drink (24 percent
statewide). Past-year "binge drinking" of wine coolers was reported by 49 percent of BCISD
students (47 percent statewide), while 24 percent said they usually drink five or more wine
coolers at a time on average when they drink (22 percent statewide).

Eleven percent of Bay City students reported attending at least one class during the past school
year while "drunk" (10 percent statewide) (Figs. 9a and 9b). Twenty* percent of BCISD
students said they had driven a car after having "a good bit to drink" at least once during the
past year, a rate somewhat higher than that reported by their counterparts statewide (15
percent). The highest rate of driving while intoxicated was reported by Bay City 12th graders
(33 percent/26 percent statewide). Driving while intoxicated four or more times during the past
year was reported by 5 percent of district students (4 percent statewide) (Fig. 11).

Students were asked about the availability of alcohol, its use among friends, and its use at
parties. Eighty-five percent of Bay City ISD students said beer, wine, wine coolers, or liquor
were somewhat easy or very easy to obtain (84 percent statewide). Fifty-four* percent of
district students reported most or all of their close friends drink alcohol, (48 percent statewide),
and 55* percent responded "from friends" when asked where they obtained alcohol most of the
time or always (49 percent statewide), rates somewhat higher than those reported by students

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statewide. "Difficulties of any kind" with friends because of one's own drinking was reported
by 13 percent of BCISD students (11 percent statewide).

Fifty-two percent of Bay City students said alcohol was used at most or all of the parties they
attended in the past school year (51 percent statewide). The highest rate of alcohol use at most
or all parties was reported by BCISD 12th graders (68 percent/62 percent statewide) (Figs. 12a
and 12b). Fifty-four percent of district students responded "at parties" when asked where they
obtained alcohol most of the time or always (53 percent statewide), while 27 percent of BCISD
students said they get alcohol "from the store" most of the time or always, the same rate
reported by their peers 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 BCISD students who had not been absent since the Fall
reported having used alcohol during the past month (39* percent/31 percent statewide) than did
district students who said they had missed four or more days of school (54 percent/53 percent
statewide). Seventy-seven* 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
higher than that reported by their counterparts statewide (69 percent). 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 (33 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, 72 percent of Bay City students
said their parents strongly or mildly disapprove (74 percent statewide). Eight percent of district
students said they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age drinking beer (8
percent statewide), and 14 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (13 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, Bay City ISD students are using
inhalants at rates similar to those reported by their counterparts statewide.

Eighteen percent of Bay City students reported using inhalants at least once during their
lifetimes (17 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). The rates of lifetime inhalant use range from 16
percent of BCISD 12th graders (15 percent statewide) and 16 percent of district 11th graders
(14 percent statewide) to 23 percent of district 9th graders (19 percent statewide) (Figs. 5a and
5b).
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.

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Three percent of Bay City ISD students said they had used inhalants during the past month (4
percent statewide) (Fig. 2). Three percent of BCISD students reported most or all of their close
friends use inhalants (2 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). Ten percent
of BCISD students said they had used two or more different kinds of inhalant substances during
their lifetimes (10 percent statewide).

The inhalant substance most frequently used by Bay City students was correction fluid/Liquid
Paper (11 percent/8 percent statewide). Eight percent of BCISD students reported inhaling
substances in the "other inhalants" category (6 percent statewide), 6 percent reported inhaling
gasoline (5 percent statewide), 6 percent said they had inhaled liquid/spray paint (6 percent
statewide), and 5 percent said they had inhaled paint thinner (5 percent statewide) at least once
during their lifetimes (Figs. 7a and 7b).

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 Bay City ISD, 36 percent of students reported use of illicit drugs at least once during their
lifetimes (33 percent statewide), while 27 percent of BCISD students said they had used one or
more illicit substances three or more times (23 percent statewide). Statewide, students who said
they had used illicit drugs reported using them an average of 1.8 times in the past 30 days and
5.4 times during their lives. Bay City students reported average usage rates of 1.8 times in the
past month and 5.8 times during their lifetimes.

Thirty-five percent of BCISD students reported using marijuana at least once in their lifetimes,
a rate similar to that reported by their counterparts statewide (31 percent) (Fig. 1). The rates of
lifetime marijuana use ranged from 33 percent of district 10th graders (30 percent statewide)
and 33 percent of district 9th graders (28 percent statewide) to 40 percent of Bay City 12th
graders (34 percent statewide) (Figs. 5a and 5b).

Past-month marijuana use was reported by 16 percent of Bay City ISD students (14 percent
statewide) (Fig. 2). The rates of current marijuana use ranged from 13 percent of district 12th
graders (14 percent statewide) to 20* percent of BCISD 9th graders (14 percent statewide)
(Figs. 6a and 6b).

Thirteen percent of BCISD students reported attending at least one class in the past year while
"stoned" on marijuana (11 percent statewide) (Fig. 11). The rates of attending class while
stoned ranged from 9 percent of Bay City 12th graders (9 percent statewide) to 15 percent of

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district 9th graders (12 percent statewide) and 15* percent of district 11th graders (10 percent
statewide) (Figs. 10a and 10b).

Driving under the influence of drugs at least once during the past year was reported by 11
percent of Bay City ISD students (8 percent statewide). Driving under the influence of drugs
in the past year was reported by 17 percent of district 12th graders (12 percent statewide).

Sixty-four* percent of BCISD students said marijuana was somewhat or very easy to obtain (58
percent statewide), and 22 percent reported most or all of their close friends use marijuana (19
percent statewide). Five 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).

Twenty-four percent of the Bay City ISD students said that marijuana and/or other drugs were
used at most or all of the parties they attended during the school year (22 percent statewide).
Thirty percent of BCISD 12th graders reported the use of marijuana and/or other drugs at most
or all of the parties they attended during the school year (24 percent statewide).

Fewer Bay City ISD students who had not been absent since the Fall reported having used
marijuana during the past month (9 percent/7 percent statewide) than did district students who
said they had missed four or more days of school (18 percent/18 percent statewide). Seven
percent of district students who had not gotten into trouble with school officials reported using
marijuana within the past 30 days (6 percent statewide). By contrast, 42* percent of district
students who had gotten into trouble with school officials on four or more days reported using
marijuana during the past 30 days, a rate somewhat higher than that reported by their
counterparts statewide (34 percent).

When asked about parental attitudes toward marijuana use, Bay City students reported a
disapproval rate of 89 percent (88 percent statewide). Six percent of district students said they
"don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age using marijuana (6 percent statewide),
while 2 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (4 percent statewide) (Fig.
15).

Uppers are the next most frequently used illicit substance among Bay City ISD students (11
percent/9 percent statewide). Six percent of BCISD students said they had used hallucinogens
(8 percent statewide), 6 percent reported using downers (6 percent statewide), 4 percent said
they had used powdered cocaine (6 percent statewide), and 3 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
Bay City 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 BCISD
students with regard to tobacco, alcohol, inhalants, powdered cocaine, crack, hallucinogens,
uppers, downers, steroids, or ecstasy use.

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Statewide, students making A and B grades reported lower drug use than did students making
C, D, and F grades. In the Bay City ISD, students reporting lower grades were somewhat more
likely to report uppers use than were those students making A and B grades. In addition,
students reporting lower grades were nearly twice as likely to report marijuana use, over two
times as likely to report inhalant use, nearly three times as likely to report downers use, and
over three times as likely to report powdered cocaine use as were students reporting A and B
grades. There were no other significant differences by grade average among BCISD students
with regard to tobacco, alcohol, crack, hallucinogens, steroids, or ecstasy use.

In the statewide survey, students living in two-parent homes reported lower drug use than did
students living in other family situations. BCISD students living in other family situations were
somewhat more 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
Bay City ISD students with regard to tobacco, alcohol, inhalants, powdered cocaine, crack,
hallucinogens, uppers, downers, steroids, or ecstasy use.

When asked where they would go for help with a drug or alcohol problem, the largest
percentage of Bay City students said they would seek help from their friends (74 percent/77
percent statewide). Sixty percent of BCISD students said they would seek help from an adult
friend or relative (58 percent statewide), and 58* percent said they would turn to their parents
(51 percent statewide). District students are least likely to seek help from another adult in
school, such as a teacher or nurse (28 percent/31 percent statewide) (Fig. 17). Since school
began in the Fall, 6 percent of Bay City students reported seeking help for any problems
connected with alcohol or drug use from someone other than family or friends (6 percent
statewide).

Seventy-eight percent of Bay City ISD students said they had gotten information about drugs
and alcohol from a school source since classes began in the Fall, the same rate a reported by
students statewide. "An assembly program" was reported by 55 percent of district students as a
source for this information (52 percent statewide), while 46 percent said "an invited school
guest" was a source for drug and alcohol information (44 percent statewide). Forty-five percent
of BCISD 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. Ninety-four percent of Bay City students believe that crack use is "very
dangerous" (92 percent statewide), and 92 percent believe that powdered cocaine use is "very
dangerous" (90 percent statewide). Seventy-seven percent of BCISD students believe that
inhalant use is "very dangerous" (78 percent statewide), and 59 percent believe that marijuana
use is "very dangerous" (62 percent statewide). By contrast, the perceived danger of alcohol
and tobacco use is lower. Only 41 percent of BCISD students feel that it is "very dangerous" to
use alcohol (44 percent statewide), while 35 percent believe that tobacco use is "very
dangerous" (36 percent statewide) (Fig. 13).