TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE

GALVESTON 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 Galveston Independent School District (GISD). A total
of 2111 students completed the questionnaire, which asked about students' experiences with
alcohol and drugs. Of that number, 151 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 1960.1

Students' responses to the questionnaire indicate that:

•Fifty-five percent of Galveston ISD students reported using tobacco at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 25 percent said they had used tobacco during
the past month (Fig. 2).

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

•Eighty-two* percent of Galveston ISD students said they had used alcohol at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 48* percent reported using alcohol during the
past month (Fig. 2).2

•Eighteen* percent of Galveston ISD students reported attending at least one class
during the past year while "drunk," and 19* 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 15* percent of Galveston ISD students (Fig.
1), while past-month inhalant use was reported by 3* percent (Fig. 2).

•Forty-three* percent of Galveston ISD students reported using marijuana at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 23* percent said they had used marijuana
during the past month (Fig. 2).

•Galveston ISD students are most likely to turn to friends for help with a drug or alcohol
problem (71* percent) and least likely to consult another adult in school, such as
a teacher or nurse (36 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 Galveston ISD students is similar to that reported by their counterparts
statewide.

Fifty-five percent of Galveston students reported general tobacco use at least once during their
lifetimes, the same rate reported by students statewide (Fig. 1). Lifetime general tobacco use
was lowest among district 7th graders (44 percent/40 percent statewide). Sixty percent of GISD
11th graders reported lifetime use of a tobacco product (61 percent statewide).

Twenty-five percent of Galveston ISD students said they had used a tobacco product during the
past month (24 percent statewide) (Fig. 2). The rates of past-month general tobacco use ranged
from 19 percent among GISD 7th graders (16 percent statewide) to 28 percent among district
10th graders (27 percent statewide) and 28 percent among Galveston 12th graders (31 percent
statewide).

Fifty-three percent of Galveston students reported smoking cigarettes at least once during their
lifetimes (52 percent statewide), and 24 percent said they had smoked cigarettes during the past
month (22 percent statewide). Smoking cigarettes on a daily basis was reported by 7 percent of
district students (7 percent statewide). Twelve percent of Galveston ISD 10th graders reported
daily cigarette use (10 percent statewide). Twenty percent of GISD students said most or all of
their close friends smoke cigarettes (19 percent statewide).

Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 16 percent of GISD students (17
percent statewide), while 5 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

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.

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reported by 1 percent of district students (2 percent statewide), and 5 percent said most or all of
their close friends use smokeless tobacco (5 percent statewide).

Alcohol

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

Eighty-two* percent of Galveston students reported consuming alcohol at least once during
their lifetimes, compared to 74 percent of students statewide (Fig. 1). Lifetime alcohol use was
lowest among GISD 7th graders (69* percent), a rate higher than that reported by 7th graders
statewide (58 percent). Seventy-nine* percent of district 8th grade students (69 percent
statewide) and 85* percent of Galveston 9th grade students (76 percent statewide) reported
lifetime alcohol use, rates higher than those reported by 8th and 9th grade students statewide.
Lifetime alcohol use was reported by 91 percent of district 12th graders (86 percent statewide)
(Fig. 3).

Forty-eight* percent of Galveston ISD students said they had consumed alcohol during the past
month, compared to 39 percent of students statewide (Fig. 2). Past-month alcohol use was
lowest among GISD 7th graders (35* percent), a rate higher than that reported by 7th graders
statewide (24 percent). Forty-nine* percent of district 9th graders (41 percent statewide) and
54* percent of Galveston 10th graders (45 percent statewide) said they had consumed alcohol
during the past month, rates somewhat higher than those reported by their counterparts
statewide. Lifetime alcohol use was highest among district 12th graders (61 percent), a rate
somewhat higher than that reported by 12th graders statewide (52 percent) (Fig. 4).

The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by Galveston students are wine coolers (70*
percent/61 percent statewide) and beer (66* percent/59 percent statewide), rates somewhat
higher than those reported by students statewide. Forty-three* percent of GISD students said
they drink beer on a weekly or monthly basis (37 percent statewide), and 40* percent said they
drink wine coolers weekly or monthly (34 percent statewide), rates somewhat 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. Past-year "binge drinking" of wine coolers was reported by 45*
percent of GISD students (41 percent statewide), while 20 percent said they usually drink five
or more wine coolers at a time on average when they drink (19 percent statewide). Forty-three*
percent of Galveston ISD students reported "binge drinking" beer at least once during the past
year (39 percent statewide), while 21 percent said they usually drink five or more beers at a
time on average when they drink (20 percent statewide).

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Eighteen* percent of Galveston students reported attending at least one class during the past
school year while "drunk," compared to 10 percent of students statewide. The rates of attending
class while intoxicated were highest among GISD 10th graders (24* percent/11 percent
statewide) and district 11th graders (24* percent/10 percent statewide), rates higher than those
reported by 10th and 11th graders statewide. Nineteen* percent of Galveston 9th graders (11
percent statewide) and 20* percent of district 12th graders reported attending at least one class
during the past school year while "drunk" (10 percent statewide), rates also higher than those
reported by their peers statewide (Figs. 9a and 9b).

Nineteen* percent of GISD 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). The
highest rate of driving while intoxicated was reported by Galveston 12th graders (40* percent),
a rate higher than that reported by 12th graders statewide (26 percent). 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-nine percent of Galveston ISD students said beer, wine, wine coolers, or liquor
were somewhat easy or very easy to obtain (77 percent statewide). Forty-six* percent of district
students reported most or all of their close friends drink alcohol (40 percent statewide), and 46*
percent responded "from friends" when asked where they obtained alcohol most of the time or
always (40 percent statewide), rates somewhat higher than those reported by students statewide.
"Difficulties of any kind" with friends because of one's own drinking was reported by 11
percent of GISD students (10 percent statewide).

Forty-five* percent of Galveston 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. The highest rate
of alcohol use at most or all parties was reported by GISD 12th graders (72* percent), a rate
higher than that reported by 12th graders statewide (62 percent). Forty-seven* percent of
Galveston 9th grade students said alcohol was used at most or all of the parties they attended in
the past school year, a rate somewhat higher than that reported by their 9th grade peers
statewide (39 percent) (Figs. 12a and 12b). Fifty-one* percent of district students responded "at
parties" when asked where they obtain alcohol most of the time or always (44 percent
statewide), while 28* percent of GISD students said they get alcohol "from the store" most of
the time or always (21 percent statewide), rates somewhat higher 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 GISD students who had not been absent since the Fall
reported having used alcohol during the past month (34* percent/26 percent statewide) than did
district students who said they had missed four or more days of school (55* percent/47 percent
statewide), rates somewhat higher than those reported by students 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

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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, compared to 26 percent
of students 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 Galveston
students said their parents strongly or mildly disapprove (75 percent statewide). Eleven percent
of district students said they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age drinking
beer (10 percent statewide), and 13* 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. Between 1992 and
1994, use of inhalants among students statewide decreased. Overall, Galveston ISD students
are using inhalants at rates somewhat similar to those reported by their counterparts statewide.

Fifteen* percent of Galveston students reported using inhalants at least once during their
lifetimes (19 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Lifetime inhalant use was lowest among district 12th
grade students (8 percent/15 percent statewide) and highest among GISD 7th grade students (21
percent/20 percent statewide). Seventeen* percent of district 8th graders reported lifetime
inhalant use, a rate somewhat lower than that reported by 8th graders statewide (24 percent)
(Figs. 5a and 5b).

Three* percent of Galveston ISD students said they had used inhalants during the past month (5
percent statewide) (Fig. 2). The rates of past-month inhalant use ranged from 1 percent among
GISD 11th grade students (2 percent statewide) and 1 percent among district 12th grade
students (2 percent statewide) to 8 percent among GISD 7th grade students (7 percent
statewide) (Figs. 6a and 6b).

Two percent of GISD 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). Eight* percent of GISD students said they
had used two or more different kinds of inhalant substances during their lifetimes (12 percent
statewide).

The inhalant substances most frequently used by Galveston students were correction
fluid/Liquid Paper (8 percent/10 percent statewide) and substances in the "other inhalants"
category (7 percent/8 percent statewide). Five percent of district students said they had inhaled
liquid/spray paint (7 percent statewide), 4* percent said they had inhaled glue (6 percent
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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statewide), 4* percent reported inhaling gasoline (6 percent statewide), and 4* percent said they
had inhaled paint thinner (6 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. 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 Galveston ISD, 44* percent of students reported use of illicit drugs at least once during
their lifetimes (28 percent statewide), while 33* percent of GISD students said they had used
one or more illicit substances three or more times (19 percent statewide), rates higher 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. Galveston students reported average usage rates of 2.5 times in the past month and 6.6*
times during their lifetimes.

Forty-three* percent of GISD students reported using marijuana at least once in their lifetimes,
a rate higher than that reported by students statewide (25 percent) (Fig. 1). Lifetime marijuana
use was highest among Galveston 11th graders (53* percent/32 percent statewide) and lowest
among district 7th graders (25* percent/13 percent statewide), rates higher than those reported
by their peers statewide (Figs. 5a and 5b).

Past-month marijuana use was reported by 23* percent of Galveston ISD students, compared to
12 percent of students statewide (Fig. 2). Past-month marijuana use was lowest among
Galveston 7th graders (12* percent), a rate somewhat higher than that reported by 7th graders
statewide (6 percent). Thirty-one* percent of district 11th grade students reported smoking
marijuana during the past month, a rate higher than that reported by 11th grade students
statewide (14 percent) (Figs. 6a and 6b).

Twenty* percent of GISD students reported attending at least one class in the past year while
"stoned" on marijuana, compared to 9 percent of students statewide. The rates of attending
class while stoned were highest among Galveston 9th graders (26* percent/12 percent
statewide), district 10th graders (26* percent/11 percent statewide), and GISD 11th graders (28*
percent/10 percent statewide), rates higher than those reported by their counterparts statewide
(Figs. 10a and 10b).

Driving under the influence of drugs at least once during the past year was reported by 15*
percent of Galveston ISD 9th through 12th grade students, compared to 8 percent of 9th through
12th grade students statewide. Driving under the influence of drugs was reported by 24*

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percent of GISD 12th graders (12 percent statewide) and 23* percent of district 11th graders (10
percent statewide), rates higher than those reported by 12th and 11th graders statewide.

Sixty-three* percent of GISD students said marijuana was somewhat or very easy to obtain (48
percent statewide), and 32* percent reported most or all of their close friends use marijuana (17
percent statewide), rates higher than those reported by students statewide. 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).

Thirty-five* percent of the Galveston ISD students said that marijuana and/or other drugs were
used at most or all of the parties they attended during the school year, compared to 17 percent
of students statewide. The highest reported use of marijuana and/or other drugs at most or all
parties was among district 12th graders (55* percent), a rate higher than that reported by 12th
graders statewide (24 percent).

Fewer Galveston ISD students who had not been absent since the Fall reported having used
marijuana during the past month (15* percent/6 percent statewide) than did district students
who said they had missed four or more days of school (26* percent/15 percent statewide), rates
somewhat higher than those reported by students statewide. Eleven* 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, 39* 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, compared to 31 percent of students statewide.

When asked about parental attitudes toward marijuana use, Galveston students reported a
disapproval rate of 80* percent (87 percent statewide). Eleven* 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).

Other illicit substances are used by a small number of Galveston ISD students. Seven percent
of GISD students said they had used hallucinogens (6 percent statewide), 5* percent reported
using uppers (7 percent statewide), 5* percent reported using ecstasy (3 percent statewide), 4
percent reported using downers (5 percent statewide), and 4 percent said they had used
powdered cocaine (5 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
Galveston ISD, there were no significant differences by gender with regard to the use of
tobacco or alcohol products, inhalants, marijuana, or other illicit substances.

Statewide, students making A and B grades reported lower drug use than did students making
C, D, and F grades. In the Galveston ISD, students reporting lower grades were somewhat

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more likely to have used an inhalant or smoked marijuana than were those students making A
and B grades. There were no other significant differences by grade average among GISD
students with regard to the use of tobacco or alcohol products or other illegal drugs.

In the statewide survey, students living in two-parent homes reported lower drug use than did
students living in other family situations. In the Galveston ISD, there were no significant
differences by living arrangement with regard to the use of tobacco or alcohol products,
inhalants, marijuana, or other illicit substances.

When asked where they would go for help with a drug or alcohol problem, the largest
percentage of Galveston students said they would seek help from their friends (71* percent/74
percent statewide). Fifty-seven percent of GISD students said they would seek help from an
adult friend or relative (57 percent statewide), and 52 percent said they would turn to their
parents (54 percent statewide). District students are least likely to seek help from another adult
in school, such as a teacher or nurse (36 percent/33 percent statewide) (Fig. 17). Since school
began in the Fall, 8 percent of Galveston students reported seeking help for any problems
connected with alcohol or drug use from someone other than family or friends (7 percent
statewide).

Eighty-six* percent of Galveston 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 72* percent of district students as a source
for information about drugs and alcohol (53 percent statewide), while 63* percent said "an
invited school guest" was a source for this information (46 percent statewide), rates higher than
those reported by students statewide. Forty-nine percent of GISD 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. Eighty-nine* percent of Galveston students believe that crack use is
"very dangerous" (91 percent statewide), and 88 percent believe that powdered cocaine use is
"very dangerous" (90 percent statewide). Seventy-four percent of GISD students believe that
inhalant use is "very dangerous" (77 percent statewide). Forty-eight* percent of district
students believe that marijuana use is "very dangerous," a rate lower than that reported by their
peers statewide (67 percent). By contrast, the perceived danger of alcohol and tobacco use is
lower. Only 39* percent of GISD students feel that it is "very dangerous" to use alcohol,
compared to 46 percent of students statewide. Forty-one percent of Galveston ISD students
believe that tobacco use is "very dangerous" (41 percent statewide) (Fig. 13).