TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE

POOLVILLE 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 Poolville Independent School District (PISD). A total of
65 students completed the questionnaire, which asked about students' experiences with alcohol
and drugs. Of that number, 2 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 63.1

Students' responses to the questionnaire indicate that:

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

•Seventeen percent of Poolville ISD students said they smoke cigarettes on a daily basis,
while 6 percent reported using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis.

•Sixty-six percent of Poolville ISD students said they had used alcohol at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 25 percent reported using alcohol during the
past month (Fig. 2).

•Five percent of Poolville ISD students reported attending at least one class during the
past year while "drunk," and 8 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."

•Lifetime use of inhalants was reported by 14 percent of Poolville ISD students (Fig. 1),
while past-month inhalant use was reported by 3 percent (Fig. 2).

•Twenty-three percent of Poolville ISD students reported using marijuana at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 11 percent said they had used marijuana
during the past month (Fig. 2).
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."

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•Poolville ISD students are most likely to turn to friends for help with a drug or alcohol
problem (85 percent) and least likely to consult another adult in school, such as a
nurse or a teacher (32 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. 2 Overall, the general use of tobacco
products among Poolville ISD students is somewhat higher than that reported by their
counterparts statewide.

Sixty-three percent of Poolville students reported general tobacco use at least once during their
lifetimes, compared to 55 percent of students statewide (Fig. 1). 3 Thirty-three percent of
Poolville 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).

Sixty-three percent of Poolville students reported smoking cigarettes at least once during their
lifetimes (52 percent statewide), and 28 percent said they had smoked cigarettes during the past
month (22 percent statewide), rates somewhat higher than those reported by their peers
statewide. Smoking cigarettes on a daily basis was reported by 17 percent of district students (7
percent statewide), while 26 percent said most or all of their close friends smoke cigarettes (19
percent statewide), rates also somewhat higher than those reported by students statewide.

Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 20 percent of PISD students (17
percent statewide), while 9 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 6 percent of district students (2 percent statewide), while none 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. Alcohol use among
secondary students in 1994 was similar to that reported in 1992. Overall, Poolville ISD
students are drinking alcohol at rates somewhat lower than those reported by their peers
statewide.

Sixty-six percent of Poolville students reported consuming alcohol at least once during their
lifetimes, compared to 74 percent of students statewide (Fig. 1). Twenty-five percent of
2 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.

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

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Poolville ISD students said they had consumed alcohol during the past month, a rate lower than
that reported by their counterparts statewide (39 percent) (Fig. 2).

The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by Poolville students are wine coolers (53
percent/61 percent statewide) and beer (50 percent/59 percent statewide). Twenty-three percent
of PISD 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. Past-year "binge drinking" of wine coolers was reported by 29
percent of PISD students, a rate lower than that reported by their peers statewide (41 percent).
Twenty-two percent of district students said they usually drink five or more wine coolers at a
time on average when they drink (19 percent statewide). Twenty-seven percent of Poolville
ISD students reported "binge drinking" beer at least once during the past year, a rate lower than
that reported by their counterparts statewide (39 percent). Twenty percent of PISD students
said they usually drink five or more beers at a time on average when they drink (20 percent
statewide).

Five percent of Poolville students reported attending at least one class during the past school
year while "drunk" (10 percent statewide) (Fig. 9). Eight percent of PISD 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, a rate somewhat lower than that reported by their counterparts statewide
(15 percent). None of the district 9th through 12th graders reported driving while intoxicated
four or more times during the past year (4 percent statewide) (Fig. 11).

Students were asked about the availability of alcohol, its use among friends, and its use at
parties. Seventy-eight percent of Poolville ISD students said beer, wine, wine coolers, or liquor
were somewhat easy or very easy to obtain (77 percent statewide). Twenty-three percent of
district students reported most or all of their close friends drink alcohol (40 percent statewide),
and 25 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 peers statewide.
"Difficulties of any kind" with friends because of one's own drinking was reported by 2 percent
of PISD students, a rate somewhat lower than that reported by students statewide (10 percent).

Twenty-four percent of Poolville students said alcohol was used at most or all of the parties
they attended in the past school year, a rate lower than that reported by their counterparts
statewide (39 percent) (Fig. 12). Twenty-four* 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 PISD students said they get alcohol "from the store" most of the
time or always (21 percent statewide), rates lower than those reported by students statewide.4
4 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

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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 been in trouble because of
conduct or attitude problems. None of the PISD students who had not been absent since the
Fall reported having used alcohol during the past month (26 percent statewide), while 39
percent who said they had missed four or more days of school reported past-month alcohol
consumption (47 percent statewide). Sixty-one 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 3* percent of district students who
had not experienced difficulties with school officials because of conduct problems had used
alcohol within the past 30 days, a rate lower than that reported by their peers statewide (26
percent).

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, 73 percent of Poolville 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
(10 percent statewide), and 15 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, Poolville ISD students are
using inhalants at rates somewhat similar to those reported by their counterparts statewide.

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

None of PISD students reported most or all of their close friends use inhalants (3 percent
statewide), while 2 percent said they had attended at least one class during the past school year
while "high" on inhalants (3 percent statewide). Eight percent of PISD students said they had
used two or more different kinds of inhalant substances during their lifetimes (12 percent
statewide).

are not marked may be important, but should be treated with more caution than those that are statistically
significant.

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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Five percent of Poolville students reported having inhaled correction fluid/Liquid Paper (10
percent statewide), 5 percent said they had inhaled paint thinner (6 percent statewide), 5 percent
reported inhaling substances in the "other inhalants" category (8 percent statewide), 4 percent
reported inhaling substances in the "other sprays" category (4 percent statewide), 3 percent
reported inhaling gasoline (6 percent statewide), 3 percent said they had inhaled liquid/spray
paint (7 percent statewide), and 2 percent said they had inhaled glue (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 Poolville ISD, 22 percent of students reported use of illicit drugs at least once during their
lifetimes (28 percent statewide), while 19 percent of PISD students said they had used one or
more illicit substances three or more times (19 percent statewide), rates similar to 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.
Poolville students reported average usage rates of 1.5 times in the past month and 5.0 times
during their lifetimes.

Twenty-three percent of PISD students reported using marijuana at least once in their lifetimes,
a rate similar to that reported by students statewide (25 percent) (Fig. 1). Past-month marijuana
use was reported by 11 percent of Poolville ISD students (12 percent statewide) (Fig. 2).

Ten percent of PISD 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 13 percent of Poolville ISD 9th through 12th
grade students (8 percent statewide).

Forty-three percent of PISD students said marijuana was somewhat or very easy to obtain (48
percent statewide). Seven percent of district students reported most or all of their close friends
use marijuana, a rate lower than that reported by their peers statewide (17 percent). Two
percent of district students said they had been in "difficulties of any kind" with their friends
because of their own drug use (5 percent statewide). Fourteen percent of the Poolville ISD
students said that marijuana and/or other drugs were used at most or all of the parties they
attended during the school year (17 percent statewide).

None of the Poolville ISD students who had not been absent since the Fall reported having used
marijuana during the past month (6 percent statewide), while 17 percent who said they had
missed four or more days of school reported smoking marijuana during the past month (15

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percent statewide). None of the district students who had not been in trouble with school
officials reported using marijuana within the past 30 days (4 percent statewide). By contrast, 36
percent of district students who had been in 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, Poolville students reported a
disapproval rate of 87 percent (87 percent statewide). Eight percent of district students said
they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age using marijuana (8 percent
statewide), while 4 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (4 percent
statewide) (Fig. 15).

Uppers are the next most frequently used illicit substance among Poolville ISD students (12
percent/7 percent statewide). Nine percent of PISD students reported using downers (5 percent
statewide), 7 percent said they had used powdered cocaine (5 percent statewide), 6 percent said
they had used hallucinogens (6 percent statewide), 2 percent reported using crack (2 percent
statewide), 2 percent reported using ecstasy (3 percent statewide), and 1 percent said they had
used steroids (2 percent statewide) at least once during their lifetimes (Fig. 1).

DRUG AND ALCOHOL INFORMATION

When asked where they would go for help with a drug or alcohol problem, the largest
percentage of Poolville students said they would seek help from their friends (85 percent/74
percent statewide). Sixty percent of PISD 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 another adult in school,
such as a teacher or nurse (32 percent/33 percent statewide), or a counselor or program in
school (35 percent/35 percent statewide) (Fig. 17). Since school began in the Fall, 1 percent of
Poolville students reported seeking help for any problems connected with alcohol or drug use
from someone other than family or friends, a rate somewhat lower than that reported by their
peers statewide (7 percent).

Forty-two* percent of Poolville ISD students said they had obtained information about drugs
and alcohol from a school source since classes began in the Fall, compared to 79 percent of
students statewide. Twenty-three* percent of PISD students reported getting information about
drugs and alcohol from a "health class" (46 percent statewide), while 5* percent said "an invited
school guest" was a source for this information (46 percent statewide). Three* percent of
district students reported "an assembly program" as a source for information about drugs and
alcohol (53 percent statewide).

The influence of drug education programs may be reflected in students' attitudes toward the use
of specific substances. Ninety-one percent of Poolville 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). Eighty percent of PISD students believe that inhalant use is
"very dangerous" (77 percent statewide), and 61 percent believe that marijuana use is "very

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dangerous" (67 percent statewide). By contrast, the perceived danger of alcohol and tobacco
use is lower. Only 42 percent of PISD students feel that it is "very dangerous" to use alcohol
(46 percent statewide). Sixteen* percent of Poolville ISD students believe that tobacco use is
"very dangerous," a rate lower than that reported by their peers statewide (41 percent) (Fig. 13).