TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE

CLEBURNE 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 Cleburne Independent School District (CISD). A total of
1,780 students completed the questionnaire, which asked about students' experiences with
alcohol and drugs. Of that number, 122 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 1,658.1

Students' responses to the questionnaire indicate that:

•Fifty* percent of Cleburne 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).2

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

•Sixty-six* percent of Cleburne ISD students said they had used alcohol at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 34* percent reported using alcohol during the
past month (Fig. 2).

•Eight percent of Cleburne 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 19 percent of Cleburne ISD students (Fig. 1),
while past-month inhalant use was reported by 6 percent (Fig. 2).

•Twenty-four percent of Cleburne ISD students reported using marijuana at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 12 percent said they had used marijuana
during the past month (Fig. 2).

•Cleburne ISD students are most likely to turn to friends for help with a drug or alcohol
problem (77* percent) and least likely to consult another adult in school, such as
a teacher or nurse (25 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 Cleburne ISD students is somewhat similar to that reported by their
counterparts statewide.

Fifty* percent of Cleburne students reported general tobacco use at least once during their
lifetimes (55 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Lifetime general tobacco use was lowest among CISD
7th graders (31* percent), a rate somewhat lower than that reported by their peers statewide (40
percent). Forty-three* percent of district 8th grade students reported lifetime use of tobacco
products, a rate somewhat lower than that reported by 8th grade students statewide (52 percent).
Sixty-five percent of CISD 12th graders said they had used a tobacco product at least once
during their lifetimes (63 percent statewide).

Twenty-six percent of Cleburne ISD students said they had used a tobacco product during the
past month (24 percent statewide) (Fig. 2). Past-month general tobacco use was lowest among
district 7th graders (14 percent/16 percent statewide). Thirty-seven* percent of CISD 11th
graders reported using a tobacco product during the past month, a rate higher than that reported
by their counterparts statewide (27 percent).

Forty-seven* percent of Cleburne students reported smoking cigarettes at least once during their
lifetimes (52 percent statewide), and 23 percent said they had smoked cigarettes during the past
month (22 percent statewide). Smoking cigarettes on a daily basis was reported by 9* percent
of district students (7 percent statewide). Daily cigarette use was highest among Cleburne ISD
12th graders (20 percent), a rate somewhat higher than that reported by 12th graders statewide
(12 percent). Eighteen percent of CISD students said most or all of their close friends smoke
cigarettes (19 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 1994.

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Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 19 percent of CISD students (17
percent statewide), while 7 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 2 percent of district students (2 percent statewide), and 6 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 Cleburne ISD.
Alcohol use among secondary students statewide in 1994 was similar to that reported in 1992.
Overall, Cleburne ISD students are drinking alcohol at rates somewhat lower than those
reported by their peers statewide.

Sixty-six* percent of Cleburne 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 CISD 7th graders (43 percent), a rate lower than that reported by 7th graders
statewide (58 percent). Sixty-one* percent of the district 8th graders (69 percent statewide) and
67 percent of the Cleburne 9th graders (76 percent statewide) reported lifetime alcohol use,
rates somewhat lower than those reported by their 8th and 9th grade counterparts statewide.
Eighty-two percent of CISD 12th grade students said they had consumed alcohol at least once
during their lifetimes, the same rate reported by 12th grade students statewide (Fig. 3).

Thirty-four* percent of Cleburne ISD students said they had consumed alcohol during the past
month (39 percent statewide) (Fig. 2). Past-month alcohol use was lowest among CISD 7th
graders (15* percent), a rate somewhat lower than that reported by 7th graders statewide (24
percent). Thirty-three* percent of district 9th graders reported past-month alcohol
consumption, a rate somewhat lower than that reported by their counterparts statewide (41
percent). The highest rate of past-month alcohol consumption was reported by district 12th
graders (52 percent/52 percent statewide) (Fig. 4).

The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by Cleburne students are beer (53* percent/59
percent statewide) and wine coolers (53* percent/61 percent statewide), rates somewhat lower
than those reported by their peers statewide. Thirty-two* percent of CISD students said they
drink beer on a weekly or monthly basis (37 percent statewide). Twenty-eight* percent of
district students said they drink wine coolers weekly or monthly, a rate somewhat lower than
that reported by their counterparts statewide (34 percent).

"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 36*
percent of CISD 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). Thirty-five
percent of Cleburne ISD students reported "binge drinking" beer at least once during the past
year (39 percent statewide), while 22 percent said they usually drink five or more beers at a
time on average when they drink (20 percent statewide).

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Eight percent of Cleburne students reported attending at least one class during the past school
year while "drunk" (10 percent statewide). The rates of attending class while intoxicated ranged
from 5 percent among district 7th graders (7 percent statewide) to 10 percent among district 8th
graders (10 percent statewide), 10 percent among Cleburne 10th graders (11 percent statewide),
and 10 percent among CISD 12th graders (10 percent statewide) (Figs. 9a and 9b).

Nineteen percent of CISD 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 Cleburne 12th graders (34 percent), a
rate somewhat higher than that reported by 12th graders statewide (26 percent). Driving while
intoxicated four or more times during the past year was reported by 5 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-four percent of Cleburne ISD students said beer, wine, wine coolers, or liquor
were somewhat easy or very easy to obtain (77 percent statewide). Thirty-four* percent of
district students reported most or all of their close friends drink alcohol, a rate somewhat lower
than that reported by their counterparts statewide (40 percent). Thirty-seven percent of district
students responded "from friends" when asked where they obtained alcohol most of the time or
always (40 percent statewide). "Difficulties of any kind" with friends because of one's own
drinking was reported by 9 percent of CISD students (10 percent statewide).

Thirty-five* percent of Cleburne students said alcohol was used at most or all of the parties they
attended in the past school year (39 percent statewide). Fifty-seven percent of CISD 12th
graders reported alcohol use at most or all parties (62 percent statewide) (Figs. 12a and 12b).
Thirty-six* percent of district students responded "at parties" when asked where they obtain
alcohol most of the time or always (44 percent statewide), while 16* percent of CISD students
said they get alcohol "from the store" most of the time or always (21 percent statewide), rates
somewhat lower than those reported by their counterparts 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 been in trouble because of
conduct or attitude problems. Fewer CISD students who had not been absent since the Fall
reported having used alcohol during the past month (19* percent/26 percent statewide) than did
district students who said they had missed four or more days of school (41* percent/47 percent
statewide), rates somewhat lower than those reported by their peers statewide. Sixty-three
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 22* percent of district students who had not experienced difficulties with school officials
because of conduct problems had used alcohol within the past 30 days (26 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, 77 percent of Cleburne students
said their parents strongly or mildly disapprove (75 percent statewide). Eight percent of district

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students said they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age drinking beer (10
percent statewide), and 11 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (11 percent
statewide) (Fig. 15).

Inhalants

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, Cleburne ISD students are
using inhalants at rates similar to those reported by their counterparts statewide.

Nineteen percent of Cleburne students reported using inhalants at least once during their
lifetimes (19 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Thirteen percent of district 7th graders reported
lifetime inhalant use, a rate somewhat lower than that reported by 7th graders statewide (20
percent). Twenty-four percent of CISD 8th graders said they had used an inhalant at least once
during their lifetimes (24 percent statewide). (Figs. 5a and 5b).

Six percent of Cleburne 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 2 percent among
district 12th graders (2 percent statewide) to 8 percent among CISD 8th graders (8 percent
statewide) (Figs. 6a and 6b).

Three percent of CISD 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). Twelve percent of CISD students said
they had used two or more different kinds of inhalant substances during their lifetimes (12
percent statewide).

The inhalant substance most frequently used by Cleburne students was correction fluid/Liquid
Paper (10 percent/10 percent statewide). Eight* percent of district students reported inhaling
gasoline (6 percent statewide), 8 percent reported inhaling substances in the "other inhalants"
category (8 percent statewide), 7 percent said they had inhaled liquid/spray paint (7 percent
statewide), and 7 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.

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In the Cleburne ISD, 26 percent of students reported use of illicit drugs at least once during
their lifetimes (28 percent statewide), while 19 percent of CISD students said they had used one
or more illicit substances three or more times (19 percent 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. Cleburne students reported average usage rates of 1.6 times in
the past month and 4.8 times during their lifetimes.

Twenty-four percent of CISD students reported using marijuana at least once in their lifetimes
(25 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Lifetime marijuana use was lowest among district 7th graders
(8 percent/13 percent statewide). Thirty-seven percent of CISD 11th grade students reported
smoking marijuana at least once during their lifetimes (32 percent statewide) (Figs. 5a and 5b).

Past-month marijuana use was reported by 12 percent of Cleburne ISD students (12 percent
statewide) (Fig. 2). Past-month marijuana use was lowest among district 7th graders (3*
percent/6 percent statewide) and highest among CISD 10th graders (20 percent/14 percent
statewide) (Figs. 6a and 6b).

Eight percent of CISD students reported attending at least one class in the past year while
"stoned" on marijuana (9 percent statewide). The rates of attending class while stoned ranged
from 3 percent among district 7th graders (6 percent statewide) to 12 percent among CISD 10th
graders (11 percent statewide) (Figs. 10a and 10b).

Driving under the influence of drugs at least once during the past year was reported by 10
percent of Cleburne ISD 9th through 12th grade students (8 percent statewide). Fourteen*
percent of district 10th graders reported driving under the influence of drugs at least once
during the past year, a rate somewhat higher than that reported by 10th graders statewide (7
percent).

Forty-nine percent of CISD students said marijuana was somewhat or very easy to obtain (48
percent statewide), and 15 percent reported most or all of their close friends use marijuana (17
percent statewide). Five 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).

Seventeen percent of the Cleburne 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).
Twelve percent of CISD 12th graders reported marijuana and/or other drug use at most or all
parties (24 percent statewide).

Fewer Cleburne ISD students who had not been absent since the Fall reported having used
marijuana during the past month (5 percent/6 percent statewide) than did district students who
said they had missed four or more days of school (15 percent/15 percent statewide). Four
percent of district students who had not been in trouble with school officials reported using
marijuana within the past 30 days (4 percent statewide). By contrast, 34 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).

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When asked about parental attitudes toward marijuana use, Cleburne students reported a
disapproval rate of 87 percent (87 percent statewide). Seven percent of district students said
they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age using marijuana (8 percent
statewide), while 3 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (4 percent
statewide) (Fig. 15).

Uppers are the next most frequently used illicit substance among Cleburne ISD students (9
percent/7 percent statewide). Seven percent of CISD students said they had used hallucinogens
(6 percent statewide), 6 percent said they had used powdered cocaine (5 percent statewide), 6*
percent reported using ecstasy (3 percent statewide), and 5 percent reported using downers (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. There
were no significant differences by gender among CISD 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. CISD students living in other family situations were
somewhat more likely to have used tobacco products, inhalants, or downers and nearly twice as
likely to have smoked marijuana than were those district students living in homes with two
parents. There were no other significant differences by living arrangement among Cleburne
ISD students with regard to the use of alcohol or other illegal drugs.

When asked where they would go for help with a drug or alcohol problem, the largest
percentage of Cleburne students said they would seek help from their friends (77* percent/74
percent statewide). Fifty-seven percent of CISD students said they would seek help from an
adult friend or relative (57 percent statewide), and 56 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 (25* percent/33 percent statewide), or from a counselor or
program in school (28* percent/35 percent statewide), rates somewhat lower than those reported
by their peers statewide (Fig. 17). Since school began in the Fall, 4* percent of Cleburne
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 Cleburne 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. Thirty-eight* percent of district students reported getting information about
drugs and alcohol from a "health class," a rate somewhat lower than that reported by their
counterparts statewide (46 percent). "An assembly program" was reported by 35* percent of
CISD students as a source for this information (53 percent statewide), and 23* percent said "an
invited school guest" was a source for information about drugs and alcohol (46 percent

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statewide), rates lower than those reported by their 7th through 12th grade counterparts
statewide.

The influence of drug education programs may be reflected in students' attitudes toward the use
of specific substances. Eighty-nine* percent of Cleburne 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-five percent of CISD students believe that
inhalant use is "very dangerous" (77 percent statewide), and 66 percent believe that marijuana
use is "very dangerous" (67 percent statewide). By contrast, the perceived danger of alcohol
and tobacco use is lower. Only 47 percent of CISD students feel that it is "very dangerous" to
use alcohol (46 percent statewide), while 39 percent believe that tobacco use is "very
dangerous" (41 percent statewide) (Fig. 13).