TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE

AUSTIN ISD

SECONDARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

OVERVIEW

In the Spring of 1996, 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 Austin Independent School District (AISD). A total of 4063
students completed the questionnaire, which asked about students' experiences with alcohol and
drugs. Of that number, 221 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 3842.1

Students' responses to the questionnaire indicate that:

•Fifty-seven percent of Austin ISD students reported using tobacco at least once during
their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 26 percent said they had used tobacco during the past
month (Fig. 2).

•Eight percent of Austin ISD students said they smoke cigarettes on a daily basis, while
1* percent reported using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis.2

•Seventy-seven* percent of Austin ISD students said they had used alcohol at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 40* percent reported using alcohol during the
past month (Fig. 2).

•Thirteen percent of Austin ISD 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" (Fig. 11).

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 20 percent of district students (Fig. 1), while
past-month inhalant use was reported by 4 percent (Fig. 2).

•Forty-two* percent of AISD students reported using marijuana at least once during their
lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 22* percent said they had used marijuana during the past
month (Fig. 2).

•Austin ISD students are most likely to turn to friends for help with a drug or alcohol
problem (75 percent) and least likely to consult another adult in school, such as a
teacher or nurse (30 percent) (Fig. 17).

Tobacco

Over the last two years, the general use of tobacco (including cigarettes and smokeless products)
among students statewide has increased slightly.3 Overall, the general use of tobacco products
among Austin ISD students is similar to that reported by their counterparts statewide.

Fifty-seven percent of Austin students reported general tobacco use at least once during their
lifetimes (55 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Lifetime general tobacco use was lowest among district
7th graders (38 percent/41 percent statewide). Sixty-six percent of AISD 12th graders reported
lifetime use of a tobacco product (63 percent statewide).

Twenty-six percent of Austin ISD students said they had used a tobacco product during the past
month (26 percent statewide) (Fig. 2). Past-month general tobacco use was lowest among AISD
7th grade students (16 percent/17 percent statewide) and highest among district 12th grade
students (36 percent/34 percent statewide).

Fifty-six percent of Austin students reported smoking cigarettes at least once during their
lifetimes (53 percent statewide), and 25 percent said they had smoked cigarettes during the past
month (25 percent statewide). Smoking cigarettes on a daily basis was reported by 8 percent of
district students (8 percent statewide). Daily cigarette use was highest among Austin ISD 12
graders (17 percent/14 percent statewide). Twenty-one percent of AISD students said most or
all of their close friends smoke cigarettes (21 percent statewide).

Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 14* percent of AISD students (16
percent statewide), while 4* percent said they had used a smokeless tobacco product during the
past month (5 percent statewide). Using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis was
reported by 1* percent of district students (1 percent statewide), and 4 percent said most or all of
their close friends use smokeless tobacco (5 percent statewide).

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 the Spring of 1996.

2
Alcohol

Alcohol is the most widely used substance among students statewide and in the Austin ISD.
Alcohol use among secondary students statewide has decreased slightly from that reported two
years ago. Overall, Austin ISD students are drinking alcohol at rates somewhat similar to those
reported by their peers statewide.

Seventy-seven* percent of Austin students reported consuming alcohol at least once during their
lifetimes (74 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Lifetime alcohol use was lowest among AISD 7th
graders (59 percent/56 percent statewide). The highest rate of lifetime alcohol use was reported
by district 12th graders (90* percent), a rate somewhat higher than that reported by 12th graders
statewide (85 percent) (Fig. 3).

Forty* percent of Austin ISD students said they had consumed alcohol during the past month (38
percent statewide) (Fig. 2). Past-month alcohol use was lowest among AISD 7th graders (22
percent/23 percent statewide). Fifty-eight* percent of district 12th graders said they had
consumed alcohol during the past month, a rate somewhat higher than that reported by 12th
graders statewide (51 percent statewide) (Fig. 4).

The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by Austin students are wine coolers (61*
percent/58 percent statewide) and beer (59* percent/56 percent statewide). Thirty-five percent
of AISD students said they drink beer on a weekly or monthly basis (33 percent statewide), and
32 percent said they drink wine coolers weekly or monthly (31 percent statewide).

"Binge drinking" is the consumption of five or more beers, wine coolers, servings of wine, or
drinks with liquor at one time. Lifetime "binge drinking" of wine coolers was reported by 41
percent of AISD students (40 percent statewide), while 19 percent said they usually drink five or
more wine coolers at a time on average when they drink (18 percent statewide). Thirty-eight
percent of Austin ISD students reported "binge drinking" beer at least once during their lifetimes
(37 percent statewide), while 18 percent said they usually drink five or more beers at a time on
average when they drink (19 percent statewide).

Eleven percent of Austin students reported attending at least one class during the past school
year while "drunk" (9 percent statewide). The rates of attending while intoxicated ranged from 7
percent among AISD 7th graders (7 percent statewide) to 13 percent among district 9th graders
(10 percent statewide) and 13 percent among Austin 12th graders (11 percent statewide) (Figs.
9a and 9b).

Thirteen percent of AISD 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 Austin 12th graders (29 percent/26
percent statewide). Seven* percent of AISD 10th 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 10th grade peers statewide (12 percent). Driving while intoxicated four or

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more times during the past year was reported by 3 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-eight* percent of Austin ISD students said beer, wine, wine coolers, or liquor were
somewhat easy or very easy to obtain (75 percent statewide). Thirty-eight percent of district
students reported most or all of their close friends drink alcohol (37 percent statewide), and 41*
percent responded "from friends" when asked where they obtained alcohol most of the time or
always (39 percent statewide). "Difficulties of any kind" with friends because of one's own
drinking was reported by 9 percent of AISD students (9 percent statewide).

Thirty-eight percent of Austin students said alcohol was used at most or all of the parties they
attended in the past school year (37 percent statewide). The highest rate of alcohol use at most
or all parties was reported by AISD 12th graders (67 percent/61 percent statewide) (Figs. 13a
and 13b). Forty-six* percent of district students responded "at parties" when asked where they
obtain alcohol most of the time or always (43 percent statewide), while 18 percent of AISD
students said they get alcohol "from the store" most of the time or always (17 percent 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 AISD students who had not been absent since the Fall
reported having used alcohol during the past month (31* percent/25 percent statewide) than did
district students who said they had missed four or more days of school (45 percent/44 percent
statewide). Sixty-two percent of Austin ISD students who had experienced difficulties with
school officials on four or more days reported using alcohol during the past 30 days (62 percent
statewide). By contrast, only 27 percent of district students who had not experienced difficulties
with school officials because of conduct problems had used alcohol within the past 30 days (25
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, 75 percent of Austin students said
their parents strongly or mildly disapprove (76 percent statewide). Ten percent of district
students said they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age drinking beer (9
percent statewide), and 10 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (10 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,

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
use of inhalants among students statewide has stayed about the same. Overall, Austin ISD
students are using inhalants at rates similar to those reported by their counterparts statewide.

Twenty percent of Austin students reported using inhalants at least once during their lifetimes (20
percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Lifetime inhalant use was reported by 13* percent of district 10th
grade students, a rate somewhat lower than that reported by 10th grade students statewide (18
percent statewide). Twenty-five percent of AISD 8th grade students reported lifetime inhalant
use (24 percent statewide) (Figs. 5a and 5b).

Four percent of Austin ISD students said they had used inhalants during the past month (5
percent statewide) (Fig. 2). Past-month inhalant use was reported by 1* percent of district 10th
grade students (4 percent statewide) (Figs. 6a and 6b). Two* percent of AISD 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 (4 percent
statewide). Eleven percent of AISD 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 Austin students were correction fluid/Liquid
Paper (8 percent/9 percent statewide) and those in the "other inhalants" category (8 percent/8
percent statewide). Six percent of district students said they had inhaled liquid/spray paint (7
percent statewide), 5 percent said they had inhaled glue (5 percent statewide), 3* percent
reported inhaling gasoline (5 percent statewide), and 4* 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 Austin ISD, 44* percent of students reported use of illicit drugs at least once during their
lifetimes (34 percent statewide), while 34* percent of AISD students said they had used one or
more illicit substances three or more times (25 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 2.2 times in the past 30 days and 6.4 times during their lives.
Austin students reported average usage rates of 3.0 times in the past month and 8.6 times during
their lifetimes.

Forty-two* percent of AISD students reported using marijuana at least once in their lifetimes, a
rate higher than that reported by students statewide (31 percent) (Fig. 1). Lifetime marijuana use
was lowest among Austin 7th graders (23* percent), a rate somewhat higher than that reported
by 7th graders statewide (17 percent). Fifty-one* percent of district 9th grade students (35

5
percent statewide), 51* percent of Austin 11th grade students (39 percent statewide), and 54*
percent of AISD 12th grade students (41 percent statewide) reported lifetime marijuana use;
rates higher than those reported by their peers statewide (Figs. 5a and 5b).

Past-month marijuana use was reported by 22* percent of Austin ISD students, compared to 16
percent of students statewide (Fig. 2). Past-month marijuana use was lowest among district 7th
graders (11 percent/9 percent statewide). Twenty-six* percent of AISD 12th grade students (19
percent statewide) and 30* percent of Austin 9th grade students (19 percent statewide reported
smoking marijuana during the past month, rates higher than those reported by their 12th and 9th
grade counterparts statewide (Figs. 6a and 6b).

Twenty* percent of AISD students reported attending at least one class in the past year while
"stoned" on marijuana, compared to 13 percent of students statewide. Attending class while
stoned was reported by 12* percent of Austin 7th graders (7 percent statewide). Twenty-seven*
percent of district 9th graders reported attending at least one class in the past year while "stoned"
on marijuana, a rate higher than that reported by 9th graders statewide (16 percent) (Figs. 10a
and 10b).

Driving under the influence of drugs at least once during the past year was reported by 13
percent of Austin ISD 9th through 12th grade students (12 percent statewide). Driving under the
influence of drugs was highest among AISD 12th graders (23 percent/17 percent statewide).

Sixty-three* percent of AISD students said marijuana was somewhat or very easy to obtain (53
percent statewide), and 31* percent reported most or all of their close friends use marijuana (21
percent statewide), rates higher than those reported by students statewide. Nine* percent of
district students said they had gotten into "difficulties of any kind" with their friends because of
their own drug use (6 percent statewide).

Thirty* percent of the Austin 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 23 percent of
students statewide. The use of marijuana and/or other drugs at most or all parties was highest
among district 12th graders (46* percent/33 percent statewide) and AISD 11th graders (47*
percent/32 percent statewide), rates higher than those reported by their peers statewide.

Fewer Austin ISD students who had not been absent since the Fall reported having used
marijuana during the past month (13* percent/9 percent statewide) than did district students who
said they had missed four or more days of school (26* percent/20 percent statewide). Eleven*
percent of AISD students who had not gotten into trouble with school officials reported using
marijuana within the past 30 days (7 percent statewide). By contrast, 48* 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 38 percent of students statewide.

When asked about parental attitudes toward marijuana use, Austin students reported a
disapproval rate of 81* percent (85 percent statewide). Nine percent of district students said
they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age using marijuana (8 percent

6
statewide), while 6* percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (4 percent
statewide) (Fig. 15).

Uppers (10* percent/8 percent statewide) and hallucinogens (10* percent/8 percent statewide)
are the next most frequently used illicit substances among Austin ISD students. Eight* percent
of AISD students reported using downers (6 percent statewide), 8 percent said they had used
powdered cocaine (7 percent statewide), and 6 percent reported using ecstasy (5 percent
statewide) at least once during their lifetimes (Fig. 1).

CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH DRUG USE

Statewide, female students were somewhat less likely to have used drugs than were male
students. However, in the Austin ISD, female students were somewhat more likely to have used
an upper than were district male students. There were no other significant differences by gender
among AISD students with regard to the use of tobacco products, alcohol, inhalants, marijuana,
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. AISD students living in other family situations were
somewhat more likely to have used marijuana or hallucinogens and nearly two times more likely
to have used powdered cocaine, uppers, or downers than were those district students living in
homes with two parents. There were no other significant differences by living arrangement
among Austin ISD students with regard to the use of tobacco products, alcohol, inhalants, crack,
steroids, or ecstasy.

When asked where they would go for help with a drug or alcohol problem, the largest percentage
of Austin students said they would seek help from their friends (75 percent/74 percent statewide).
Fifty-five* percent of AISD students said they would seek help from an adult friend or relative
(58 percent statewide), and 52 percent said they would turn to their parents (54 percent
statewide). District students are least likely to seek help for a drug or alcohol problem from
another adult in school, such as a teacher or nurse (30 percent/32 percent statewide) (Fig. 17).
Since school began in the Fall, 6 percent of Austin students reported seeking help for any
problems connected with alcohol or drug use from someone other than family or friends (7
percent statewide).

Sixty-seven* percent of Austin ISD students said they had gotten information about drugs and
alcohol from a school source since classes began in the Fall, compared to 75 percent of students
statewide. Thirty-nine* percent of AISD students reported getting information about drugs and
alcohol from a "health class" (46 percent statewide). "An assembly program" was reported by
26* percent of district students as a source for information about drugs and alcohol (44 percent
statewide), while 26* percent said "an invited school guest" was a source for this information (38
percent statewide), rates lower than those reported by students statewide.

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The influence of drug education programs may be reflected in students' attitudes toward the use
of specific substances. Eighty-seven percent of Austin students believe that crack use is "very
dangerous" (88 percent statewide), and 85* percent believe that powdered cocaine use is "very
dangerous" (87 percent statewide). Seventy-three* percent of AISD students believe that
inhalant use is "very dangerous" (76 percent statewide). Forty-four* percent of Austin students
believe that marijuana use is "very dangerous," a rate lower than that reported by their peers
statewide (60 percent). By contrast, the perceived danger of alcohol and tobacco use is lower.
Only 38* percent of AISD students feel that it is "very dangerous" to use alcohol (44 percent
statewide), while 36* percent believe that tobacco use is "very dangerous" (39 percent statewide)
(Fig. 13).