TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE

WESTPHALIA 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 and 8 in the Westphalia Independent School District (WISD). A total of 14 students
completed the questionnaire, which asked about students' experiences with alcohol and drugs.
Since no students were identified as exaggerators, all 14 surveys were included in analysis.1

Students' responses to the questionnaire indicate that:

•Fourteen percent of Westphalia ISD students reported using tobacco at least once during
their lifetimes, while none reported tobacco use during the past month.

•None of the Westphalia ISD students said they smoke cigarettes on a daily basis, and
none reported using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis.

•Fifty-seven percent of Westphalia ISD students said they had used alcohol at least once
during their lifetimes, and 14 percent reported using alcohol during the past
month.

•None of the Westphalia ISD students reported attending class during the past year while
"drunk."

•None of the Westphalia ISD students reported ever using inhalants, and none said they
had ever smoked marijuana.

•Westphalia ISD students are most likely to turn to their parents for help with a drug or
alcohol problem (93 percent) and least likely to consult a medical doctor (46
percent).

Tobacco

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.

1
Over the last two years, the general use of tobacco (including cigarettes and smokeless products)
among secondary students statewide has declined slightly.2 Overall, the general use of tobacco
products among Westphalia ISD 7th and 8th graders appears to be lower than that reported by
their counterparts statewide.

Fourteen percent of Westphalia students reported general tobacco use at least once during their
lifetimes (47 percent statewide).3 None of the Westphalia ISD students said they had used a
tobacco product during the past month (20 percent statewide).

Seven percent of Westphalia students reported smoking cigarettes at least once during their
lifetimes (45 percent statewide). None of the district students said most or all of their close
friends smoke cigarettes.4 Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 14
percent of WISD students (12 percent statewide). None of the district students said most or all
of their close friends use smokeless tobacco.

Alcohol

Alcohol is the most widely used substance among students statewide and in the Westphalia ISD.
Over the last two years, alcohol use among secondary students statewide has decreased
somewhat. Overall, Westphalia ISD 7th and 8th graders are drinking alcohol at rates lower than
those reported by their peers statewide.

Fifty-seven percent of Westphalia students reported consuming alcohol at least once during their
lifetimes (63 percent statewide). Fourteen percent of Westphalia ISD students said they had
consumed alcohol during the past month (28 percent statewide).

The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by Westphalia students are beer (18 percent/43
percent statewide) and wine coolers (23 percent/45 percent statewide). None of the WISD
students said they drink beer on a weekly or monthly basis (24 percent statewide), and none said
they drink wine coolers weekly or monthly (24 percent statewide).

"Binge drinking" is the consumption of five or more beers, wine coolers, servings of wine, or
drinks with liquor at one time. Fourteen percent of Westphalia ISD students reported "binge
drinking" beer at least once during their lifetimes (27 percent statewide), but none said they
usually drink five or more beers at a time on average when they drink (11 percent statewide).
Lifetime "binge drinking" of wine coolers was reported by 15 percent of WISD students (30

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 the Spring of 1996.

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

4
Because a non-standard grade combination was surveyed in this district, some statewide data are unavailable
for comparisons throughout this summary.

2
percent statewide), while 7 percent said they usually drink five or more wine coolers at a time on
average when they drink (14 percent statewide).

Students were asked about the availability of alcohol, its use at school, its use among friends, and
its use at parties. Seventy-nine percent of Westphalia ISD students said beer, wine, wine coolers,
or liquor were somewhat easy or very easy to obtain (62 percent statewide). None of the
Westphalia students reported attending at least one class during the past school year while
"drunk" (8 percent statewide).

None of the district students reported most or all of their close friends drink alcohol (22 percent
statewide), none responded "from friends" when asked where they obtained alcohol most of the
time or always, and none reported "difficulties of any kind" with friends because of one's own
drinking (5 percent statewide).

None of the Westphalia students said alcohol was used at most or all of the parties they attended
in the past school year (17 percent statewide), but 7 percent of district students responded "at
parties" when asked where they obtain alcohol most of the time or always, and 7 percent of
WISD students said they get alcohol "from the store" most of the time or always.

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, 93 percent of Westphalia students
said their parents strongly or mildly disapprove (78 percent statewide).

Inhalants5

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 secondary students statewide stayed about the same. Overall, it appears
Westphalia ISD 7th and 8th graders are using inhalants at rates lower than those reported by their
counterparts statewide.

None of the Westphalia students reported ever using inhalants (23 percent statewide). None of
the WISD students reported most or all of their close friends use inhalants (4 percent statewide),
and none said they had attended class during the past school year while "high" on inhalants (5
percent statewide).

Illicit Drugs

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.

3
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 secondary students statewide has increased. The use of
marijuana, the most frequently used illicit substance, has also increased among secondary
students statewide over the last two years.

In the Westphalia ISD, none of the students reported ever using an illicit drug (24 percent
statewide), including marijuana (21 percent statewide).

None of the WISD students said marijuana was somewhat or very easy to obtain (34 percent
statewide), none reported most or all of their close friends use marijuana (16 percent statewide),
and none said that marijuana and/or other drugs were used at most or all of the parties they
attended during the school year (12 percent statewide). When asked about parental attitudes
toward marijuana use, Westphalia students reported a disapproval rate of 92 percent (83 percent
statewide).

DRUG AND ALCOHOL INFORMATION

When asked where they would go for help with a drug or alcohol problem, the largest percentage
of Westphalia students said they would seek help from their parents (93 percent/59 percent
statewide). Seventy-seven percent of WISD students reported they would turn to their friends
for help with a drug or alcohol problem (69 percent statewide), and 69 percent said they would
seek help from an adult friend or relative (58 percent statewide). District students are least likely
to seek help from a medical doctor (46 percent/42 percent statewide). Since school began in the
Fall, none of the Westphalia students reported seeking help for any problems connected with
alcohol or drug use from someone other than family or friends (8 percent statewide).

Seventy-one percent of Westphalia ISD students said they had gotten information about drugs
and alcohol from a school source since classes began in the Fall (79 percent statewide). Fifty
percent of WISD students reported getting information about drugs and alcohol from a "health
class" (45 percent statewide). Fifteen percent of district students said "an invited school guest"
was a source for information about drugs and alcohol (46 percent statewide), and 8 percent said
"an assembly program" was a source for this information (51 percent statewide).

The influence of drug education programs may be reflected in students' attitudes toward the use
of specific substances. All of the Westphalia students believe that crack use is "very dangerous"
(86 percent statewide), that powdered cocaine use is "very dangerous" (86 percent statewide),
that inhalant use is "very dangerous" (74 percent statewide), and that marijuana use is "very
dangerous" (70 percent statewide). By contrast, the perceived danger of alcohol and tobacco use
is lower. Only 79 percent of WISD students feel that it is "very dangerous" to use alcohol (48
percent statewide), while 79 percent believe that tobacco use is "very dangerous" (48 percent
statewide).