TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE

WELLS 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 Wells Independent School District (WISD). A total of
119 students completed the questionnaire, which asked about students' experiences with alcohol
and drugs. Of that number, 15 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 104.1

Students' responses to the questionnaire indicate that:

•Sixty-five percent of Wells ISD students reported using tobacco at least once during their
lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 27 percent said they had used tobacco during the past month
(Fig. 2).

•Five percent of WISD students said they smoke cigarettes on a daily basis, while 8*
percent reported using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis.2

•Eighty-five percent of Wells ISD students said they had used alcohol at least once during
their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 46 percent reported using alcohol during the past month
(Fig. 2).

•Eleven percent of WISD students reported attending at least one class during the past year
while "drunk," and 21 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.

1
•Lifetime use of inhalants was reported by 15 percent of district students (Fig. 1), while
past-month inhalant use was reported by 2 percent (Fig. 2).

•Ten* percent of WISD 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).

•Wells ISD students are most likely to turn to friends for help with a drug or alcohol
problem (79 percent) and least likely to consult a counselor or program in school
(26 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 Wells ISD students is somewhat higher than that reported by their
counterparts statewide.

Sixty-five percent of Wells students reported general tobacco use at least once during their
lifetimes (55 percent statewide) (Fig. 1).3 Twenty-seven percent of Wells ISD students said
they had used a tobacco product during the past month (24 percent statewide) (Fig. 2).

Fifty-six percent of Wells 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 5 percent of
district students (7 percent statewide), while 16 percent said most or all of their close friends
smoke cigarettes (19 percent statewide).

Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 43* percent of WISD students (17
percent statewide), while 16* 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 8* percent of district students (2 percent statewide), and 16* percent said most or all
of their close friends use smokeless tobacco (5 percent), rates higher than those reported by their
peers statewide.

Alcohol

Alcohol is the most widely used substance among students statewide and in the Wells ISD.
Alcohol use among secondary students statewide was similar to that reported two years ago.

3
Due to the small number of students surveyed in this district, no between-grade comparisons can be made.

2
Overall, Wells ISD students are drinking alcohol at rates similar to those reported by their peers
statewide.

Eighty-five percent of Wells students reported consuming alcohol at least once during their
lifetimes (74 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Forty-six percent of Wells ISD students said they had
consumed alcohol during the past month (39 percent statewide) (Fig. 2).

The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by Wells students are beer (70 percent/59 percent
statewide) and wine coolers (72 percent/61 percent statewide). Forty percent of WISD 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).

"Binge drinking" is the consumption of five or more beers, wine coolers, servings of wine, or
drinks with liquor at one time. Forty-seven percent of Wells ISD students reported "binge
drinking" beer at least once during the past year (39 percent statewide), while 27 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 48 percent of WISD
students (41 percent statewide), while 22 percent said they usually drink five or more wine
coolers at a time on average when they drink (19 percent statewide).

Eleven percent of Wells students reported attending at least one class during the past school
year while "drunk" (10 percent statewide) (Fig. 9). Twenty-one percent of WISD 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 7 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-five percent of Wells ISD students said beer, wine, wine coolers, or liquor
were somewhat easy or very easy to obtain (77 percent statewide). Forty-five percent of district
students reported most or all of their close friends drink alcohol (40 percent statewide), and 52
percent 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 19 percent of WISD students (10 percent statewide).

Thirty-four percent of Wells students said alcohol was used at most or all of the parties they
attended in the past school year (39 percent statewide) (Fig. 12). Forty-eight percent of district
students responded "at parties" when asked where they obtained alcohol most of the time or
always (44 percent statewide), while 13 percent of WISD students said they get alcohol "from
the store" most of the time or always (21 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, 70 percent of Wells students
said their parents strongly or mildly disapprove (75 percent statewide). Twelve percent of
district students said they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age drinking beer

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(10 percent statewide), and 15 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (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, Wells ISD students are using
inhalants at rates similar to those reported by their counterparts statewide.

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

Two percent of WISD 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). Twelve percent of WISD 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 Wells students was correction fluid/Liquid
Paper (13 percent/10 percent statewide). Ten percent of district students reported inhaling
gasoline (6 percent statewide), 9 percent said they had inhaled glue (6 percent statewide), 7
percent said they had inhaled paint thinner (6 percent statewide), and 5 percent said they had
inhaled liquid/spray paint (7 percent statewide) at least once during their lifetimes (Fig. 7).

Two percent of district students who had not gotten into trouble with school officials reported
using inhalants within the past 30 days (2 percent statewide). By contrast, 10 percent of district
students who had gotten into trouble with school officials on four or more days reported using
inhalants during the past 30 days (11 percent statewide).

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.

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.

4
In the Wells ISD, 12* percent of students reported use of illicit drugs at least once during their
lifetimes (28 percent statewide), while 8* percent of WISD students said they had used one or
more illicit substances three or more times (19 percent statewide), rates lower than those
reported by their peers 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.
Wells students reported average usage rates of 0.6 times in the past month and 2.2 times during
their lifetimes.

Ten* percent of WISD students reported using marijuana at least once in their lifetimes (25
percent statewide) (Fig. 1), a rate lower than that reported by their peers statewide. Past-month
marijuana use was reported by 6 percent of Wells ISD students (12 percent statewide) (Fig. 2).

One* percent of WISD students reported attending at least one class in the past year while
"stoned" on marijuana, a rate 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 3
percent Wells ISD 9th through 12th grade students (8 percent statewide).

Thirty-three* percent of WISD students said marijuana was somewhat or very easy to obtain
(48 percent statewide), and 5* percent reported most or all of their close friends use marijuana
(17 percent statewide), rates lower than those reported by their counterparts 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).

Five* percent of Wells 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).

Nine percent of district students who said they had missed four or more days of school reported
past-month marijuana use (15 percent statewide). Four 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, 11 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 (31
percent statewide).

When asked about parental attitudes toward marijuana use, Wells 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 6 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (4 percent statewide) (Fig.
15).

Uppers are the next most frequently used illicit substance among Wells ISD students (4
percent/7 percent statewide). Three percent of district students reported using ecstasy (3 percent
statewide), 2 percent reported using downers (5 percent statewide), and 2 percent said they had
used steroids (2 percent statewide) at least once during their lifetimes (Fig. 1).

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CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH DRUG USE

Statewide, female students were less likely to have used drugs than were male students. In the
Wells ISD, male students were somewhat more likely to have used inhalants than were district
female students. However, female WISD students were somewhat more likely to have used
uppers than were district male students. There were no other significant differences by gender
among WISD students with regard to tobacco, alcohol, or other illicit drug use.

In the statewide survey, students living in two-parent homes reported lower drug use than did
students living in other family situations. WISD students living in other family situations were
somewhat more likely to have used ecstasy than were those district students living in homes
with two parents. There were no other significant differences by living arrangement among
Wells ISD students with regard to tobacco, alcohol, inhalant, or other illegal drug use.

When asked where they would go for help with a drug or alcohol problem, the largest
percentage of Wells students said they would seek help from their friends (79 percent/74
percent statewide). Fifty-seven percent of WISD 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 (54 percent statewide). District students are least likely to seek help from a counselor or
program in school (26 percent/35 percent statewide) (Fig. 17). Since school began in the Fall, 1
percent of Wells students reported seeking help for any problems connected with alcohol or
drug use from someone other than family or friends (7 percent statewide).

Seventy percent of Wells 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 51 percent of district students as a source for this information (53
percent statewide), while 46 percent said "an invited school guest" was a source for information
about drugs and alcohol (46 percent statewide). Thirty-six percent of WISD 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-two percent of Wells students believe that crack use is "very
dangerous" (91 percent statewide), and 94 percent believe that powdered cocaine use is "very
dangerous" (90 percent statewide). Eighty-nine percent of WISD students believe that inhalant
use is "very dangerous" (77 percent statewide), and 75 percent believe that marijuana use is
"very dangerous" (67 percent statewide). By contrast, the perceived danger of alcohol and
tobacco use is lower. Only 48 percent of WISD students feel that it is "very dangerous" to use
alcohol (46 percent statewide), while 42 percent believe that tobacco use is "very dangerous"
(41 percent statewide) (Fig. 13).