TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE

TIMPSON 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 8, 10, and 12 in the Timpson Independent School District (TISD). A total of 62
students completed the questionnaire, which asked about students' experiences with alcohol and
drugs. Of that number, 6 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 56.1

Students' responses to the questionnaire indicate that:

• Sixty-one percent of Timpson ISD students reported using tobacco at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 38 percent said they had used tobacco during
the past month (Fig. 2).

• Twelve percent of Timpson ISD students said they smoke cigarettes on a daily basis,
while 3 percent reported using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis.

• Seventy-one percent of Timpson 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).

• Twenty-one percent of Timpson ISD 10th and 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).

• Lifetime use of inhalants was reported by 20 percent of district students (Fig. 1),
while past-month inhalant use was reported by 12 percent (Fig. 2).

• Twenty-two percent of Timpson ISD students reported using marijuana at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 10 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."

1
• Timpson ISD students are most likely to turn to friends for help with a drug or
alcohol problem (68 percent) and least likely to seek help from another adult in
school, such as a teacher or nurse (31 percent) (Fig. 17).

Tobacco

Over the last two years, the general use of tobacco (including cigarettes and smokeless products)
among 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students statewide has increased slightly.2 Overall, the general
use of tobacco products among Timpson ISD students, especially with regard to the smokeless
variety, is somewhat higher than that reported by their counterparts statewide.

Sixty-one percent of Timpson students reported general tobacco use at least once during their
lifetimes (58 percent statewide) (Fig. 1).3 Thirty-eight percent of Timpson ISD students said they
had used a tobacco product during the past month, compared to 28 percent of students statewide
(Fig. 2).

Fifty-three percent of Timpson students reported smoking cigarettes at least once during their
lifetimes (56 percent statewide), while 32 percent said they had smoked cigarettes during the past
month (26 percent statewide). and 12 percent reported smoking cigarettes on a daily basis (9
percent statewide). Thirteen percent of district students said most or all of their close friends
smoke cigarettes, a rate somewhat lower than that reported by students statewide (22 percent).

Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 30 percent of TISD students, in
contrast to the 18 percent reported by their peers statewide. Nine percent of district students
said they had used a smokeless tobacco product during the past month (6 percent statewide), and
3 percent reported using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis (2 percent statewide).
Four percent of TISD students 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 Timpson ISD.
Alcohol use among 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students statewide has decreased slightly from that
reported two years ago. Overall, Timpson ISD students are drinking alcohol at rates somewhat
similar to those reported by their peers statewide.

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.

2
Seventy-one percent of Timpson students reported consuming alcohol at least once during their
lifetimes (76 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Forty percent of Timpson ISD students said they had
consumed alcohol during the past month (40 percent statewide) (Fig. 2).

The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by Timpson students are beer (58 percent/59
percent statewide) and wine coolers (67 percent/62 percent statewide). Thirty-two percent of
TISD students said they drink beer on a weekly or monthly basis (35 percent statewide). Forty
percent of district students said they drink wine coolers weekly or monthly, a rate somewhat
higher than that reported by students statewide (32 percent).

"Binge drinking" is the consumption of five or more beers, wine coolers, servings of wine, or
drinks with liquor at one time. Thirty-one percent of Timpson ISD students reported "binge
drinking" beer at least once during their lifetimes (40 percent statewide), while 22 percent said
they usually drink five or more beers at a time on average when they drink (21 percent
statewide). Lifetime "binge drinking" of wine coolers was reported by 34 percent of TISD
students (41 percent statewide), while 25 percent said they usually drink five or more wine
coolers at a time on average when they drink (19 percent statewide).

Eighteen percent of Timpson students reported attending at least one class during the past school
year while "drunk," compared to 10 percent of students statewide (Fig. 9). Twenty-one percent
of TISD 10th and 12th grade students said that they had driven a car after having "a good bit to
drink" at least once during the past year (18 percent statewide). Driving while intoxicated four
or more times during the past year was reported by 5 percent of district 10th and 12th graders (5
percent statewide) (Fig. 11).

Students were asked about the availability of alcohol, its use among friends, and its use at parties.
Seventy-seven percent of Timpson ISD students said beer, wine, wine coolers, or liquor were
somewhat easy or very easy to obtain (79 percent statewide). Thirty-five percent of district
students reported most or all of their close friends drink alcohol (40 percent statewide). Thirty-
one percent of Timpson students responded "from friends" when asked where they obtained
alcohol most of the time or always, a rate lower than that reported by students statewide (42
percent). "Difficulties of any kind" with friends because of one's own drinking was reported by
11 percent of TISD students (10 percent statewide).

Twenty-nine percent of Timpson students said alcohol was used at most or all of the parties they
attended in the past school year (41 percent statewide) (Fig. 13), and 33 percent responded "at
parties" when asked where they obtain alcohol most of the time or always (46 percent statewide),
rates lower than those reported by their peers statewide. Sixteen percent of TISD students said
they get alcohol "from the store" most of the time or always (19 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 TISD students who had not been absent since the Fall
reported having used alcohol during the past month (42 percent/27 percent statewide) than did
district students who said they had missed four or more days of school (52 percent/47 percent

3
statewide). Seventy-four percent of the Timpson 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 19 percent of district students who had not experienced difficulties
with school officials because of conduct problems had used alcohol within the past 30 days (27
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, 67 percent of Timpson students
said their parents strongly or mildly disapprove, a rate somewhat lower than that reported by
students statewide (76 percent). Twelve percent of district students said they "don't know" how
their parents feel about kids their age drinking beer (8 percent statewide), and 17 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 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students statewide stayed about the same.
Overall, Timpson ISD students are using inhalants at rates somewhat similar to those reported by
their counterparts statewide.

Twenty percent of Timpson students reported using inhalants at least once during their lifetimes
(19 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Twelve percent of Timpson ISD students said they had used
inhalants during the past month, more than twice the rate reported by students statewide (5
percent) (Fig. 2).

Three percent of TISD 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). Fifteen percent of TISD students said they
had used two or more different kinds of inhalant substances during their lifetimes (11 percent
statewide).

The inhalant substance most frequently used by Timpson students was correction fluid/Liquid
Paper (11 percent/9 percent statewide). Nine percent of district students said they had inhaled
glue (5 percent statewide), 7 percent reported inhaling substances in the "other inhalants"
category (8 percent statewide), 6 percent reported inhaling gasoline (5 percent statewide), 5
percent said they had inhaled liquid/spray paint (7 percent statewide), and 5 percent reported
inhaling paint thinner (5 percent statewide) at least once during their lifetimes (Fig. 7).

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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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 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students statewide has
increased. The use of marijuana, the most frequently used illicit substance, has also increased
among 8th, 10th, and 12th graders statewide over the last two years.

In the Timpson ISD, 25 percent of students reported use of illicit drugs at least once during their
lifetimes (36 percent statewide), while 16 percent of TISD students said they had used one or
more illicit substances three or more times (27 percent statewide), rates lower than those
reported by their counterparts statewide. Statewide, students who said they had used illicit drugs
reported using them an average of 2.4 times in the past 30 days and 7.0 times during their lives.
Timpson students reported average usage rates of 0.4 times in the past month and 2.4 times
during their lifetimes.

Twenty-two percent of TISD students reported using marijuana at least once in their lifetimes, a
rate somewhat lower than that reported by their counterparts statewide (33 percent) (Fig. 1).
Past-month marijuana use was reported by 10 percent of Timpson ISD students, in contrast to
the 17 percent reported by students statewide (Fig. 2).

Six percent of TISD students reported attending at least one class in the past year while "stoned"
on marijuana, a rate somewhat lower than that reported by their peers statewide (13 percent)
(Fig. 10). Driving under the influence of drugs at least once during the past year was reported by
11 percent of Timpson ISD 10th and 12th grade students (13 percent statewide).

Thirty-seven percent of TISD students said marijuana was somewhat or very easy to obtain (56
percent statewide), and 5* percent reported most or all of their close friends use marijuana (22
percent statewide), rates considerably lower than those reported by their counterparts statewide.5
None of district students said they had gotten into "difficulties of any kind" with their friends
because of their own drug use (7 percent statewide). Fourteen percent of the Timpson 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 25 percent of students statewide.

When asked about parental attitudes toward marijuana use, Timpson students reported a
disapproval rate of 89 percent (87 percent statewide). Seven percent of district students said
they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age using marijuana (7 percent
statewide), while 3 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (4 percent
statewide) (Fig. 15).
5
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.

5
Other illicit substances are used by a small number of Timpson ISD students. Eleven percent of
TISD students reported using uppers (9 percent statewide) and 2 percent said they had used
powdered cocaine (7 percent statewide) at least once during their lifetimes. None of the TISD
students reported ever using downers (6 percent statewide), hallucinogens (7 percent statewide),
crack (3 percent statewide), steroids (2 percent statewide), or ecstasy (6 percent statewide) (Fig.
1).

CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH DRUG USE

Statewide, female students were somewhat less likely to have used drugs than were male
students. In the Timpson ISD, however, female students were somewhat more likely to have
smoked marijuana and over two times more likely to have used an upper than were district male
students. In addition, TISD female students were the only reported users of powdered cocaine in
the district. There were no other significant differences by gender among TISD students with
regard to the use of tobacco products, alcohol, or inhalants.

In the statewide survey, students living in two-parent homes reported lower drug use than did
students living in other family situations. TISD students living in other family situations were
over two times more likely to have smoked marijuana than were their counterparts living in
homes with two parents. In addition, those Timpson students living in other family situations
were the only reported users of powdered cocaine in the district. On the other hand, TISD
students living in homes with two parents were nearly twice as likely to have used an upper than
were those district students living in other family situations. There were no other significant
differences by living arrangement among Timpson ISD students with regard to the use of tobacco
products, alcohol, or inhalants.

When asked where they would go for help with a drug or alcohol problem, the largest percentage
of Timpson students said they would seek help from their friends (68 percent/76 percent
statewide). Sixty-two percent of district students said they would turn to their parents for help
with a drug or alcohol problem, a rate somewhat higher than that reported by students statewide
(54 percent statewide). Fifty-two percent of TISD students said they would seek help from an
adult friend or relative (58 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 (31 percent/31
percent statewide) (Fig. 17). Since school began in the Fall, 3 percent of Timpson students
reported seeking help for any problems connected with alcohol or drug use from someone other
than family or friends (6 percent statewide).

Sixty-nine percent of Timpson ISD students said they had gotten information about drugs and
alcohol from a school source since classes began in the Fall (73 percent statewide). Fifty-six
percent of TISD students said "an invited school guest" was a source for information about drugs
and alcohol, a rate higher than that reported by students statewide (38 percent). "An assembly
program" was reported by 40 percent of district students as a source for information about drugs
and alcohol (44 percent statewide). Twenty-nine percent of TISD students reported getting

6
information about drugs and alcohol from a "health class," a rate lower than that reported by
their counterparts statewide (43 percent).

The influence of drug education programs may be reflected in students' attitudes toward the use
of specific substances. Ninety-four percent of Timpson students believe that crack use is "very
dangerous" (89 percent statewide), and 91 percent believe that powdered cocaine use is "very
dangerous" (87 percent statewide). Eighty-four* percent of TISD students believe that
marijuana use is "very dangerous," a rate considerably higher than that reported by their peers
statewide (58 percent). Eighty-two percent of Timpson ISD students believe that inhalant use is
"very dangerous" (77 percent statewide). By contrast, the perceived danger of alcohol and
tobacco use is lower. Only 36 percent of TISD students feel that it is "very dangerous" to use
alcohol (43 percent statewide), while 33 percent believe that tobacco use is "very dangerous" (36
percent statewide) (Fig. 13).