TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE

GRANBURY 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 grade 7 in the Granbury Independent School District (GISD). A total of 421
students completed the questionnaire, which asked about students' experiences with alcohol and
drugs. Of that number, 11 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 410.1

Students' responses to the questionnaire indicate that:

•Thirty-nine percent of Granbury ISD students reported using tobacco at least once
during their lifetimes, and 18 percent said they had used tobacco during the past
month.

•Five percent of Granbury ISD students said they smoke cigarettes on a daily basis, but
none reported using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis.

•Forty-seven percent of Granbury ISD students said they had used alcohol at least once
during their lifetimes, and 18 percent reported using alcohol during the past
month.

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

•Lifetime use of inhalants was reported by 16 percent of Granbury ISD students, while
past-month inhalant use was reported by 6 percent.

•Seven percent of Granbury ISD students reported using marijuana at least once during
their lifetimes, and 3 percent said they had used marijuana during the past
month.

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.

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•Granbury ISD students are most likely to turn to friends for help with a drug or alcohol
problem (73 percent) and least likely to consult another adult in school, such as a
teacher or nurse (35 percent).

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 Granbury ISD 7th grade students is similar to that reported by their 7th grade
counterparts statewide.

Thirty-nine percent of Granbury students reported general tobacco use at least once during their
lifetimes (40 percent statewide). Eighteen percent of Granbury ISD students said they had used
a tobacco product during the past month (16 percent statewide).

Thirty-six percent of Granbury students reported smoking cigarettes at least once during their
lifetimes (38 percent statewide), and 17 percent said they had smoked cigarettes during the past
month (15 percent statewide). Smoking cigarettes on a daily basis was reported by 5 percent of
district students (3 percent statewide), while 11 percent said most or all of their close friends
smoke cigarettes.3

Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 15 percent of GISD students (10
percent statewide), while 4 percent said they had used a smokeless tobacco product during the
past month (3 percent statewide). None of the district students reported using a smokeless
tobacco product on a daily basis (1 percent statewide), and 2 percent 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 Granbury ISD.
Alcohol use among secondary students statewide in 1994 was similar to that reported in 1992.
Overall, Granbury ISD 7th grade students are drinking alcohol at rates somewhat lower than
those reported by their 7th grade peers statewide.

Forty-seven percent of Granbury students reported consuming alcohol at least once during their
lifetimes, compared to 58 percent of 7th grade students statewide. Eighteen percent of
Granbury ISD students said they had consumed alcohol during the past month, a rate somewhat
lower than that reported by their counterparts statewide (24 percent).
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 Because a non-standard grade combination was surveyed in this district, some statewide data are
unavailable for comparisons throughout this summary.

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The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by Granbury students are wine coolers (35
percent/41 percent statewide) and beer (30 percent/40 percent statewide), rates somewhat lower
than those reported by 7th grade students statewide. Seventeen percent of GISD students said
they drink wine coolers weekly or monthly (21 percent statewide). Thirteen percent of district
students said they drink beer on a weekly or monthly basis, a rate somewhat lower than that
reported by their peers statewide (22 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 21
percent of GISD students (26 percent statewide), while 11 percent said they usually drink five
or more wine coolers at a time on average when they drink (12 percent statewide). Nineteen
percent of Granbury ISD students reported "binge drinking" beer at least once during the past
year (24 percent statewide), while 8 percent said they usually drink five or more beers at a time
on average when they drink (11 percent statewide).

Students were asked about the availability of alcohol, its use at school, its use among friends,
and its use at parties. Fifty-six percent of Granbury ISD students said beer, wine, wine coolers,
or liquor were somewhat easy or very easy to obtain (58 percent statewide). Five percent of
Granbury students reported attending at least one class during the past school year while
"drunk" (7 percent statewide).

Nine percent of district students reported most or all of their close friends drink alcohol, a rate
somewhat lower than that reported by 7th grade students statewide (18 percent). Fifteen
percent of Granbury students responded "from friends" when asked where they obtained alcohol
most of the time or always. "Difficulties of any kind" with friends because of one's own
drinking was reported by 2 percent of GISD students (6 percent statewide).

Ten percent of Granbury students said alcohol was used at most or all of the parties they
attended in the past school year (6 percent statewide). Fourteen percent of district students
responded "at parties" when asked where they obtain alcohol most of the time or always, while
3 percent of GISD students said they get alcohol "from the store" most of the time or always.

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 GISD students who had not been absent since the Fall
reported having used alcohol during the past month (17 percent) than did district students who
said they had missed four or more days of school (19 percent). Forty-seven 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. By contrast, only 10 percent of district students
who had not experienced difficulties with school officials because of conduct problems had
used alcohol within the past 30 days.

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, 83 percent of Granbury students

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said their parents strongly or mildly disapprove (77 percent statewide). Nine percent of district
students said they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age drinking beer (14
percent statewide), and 6 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (6 percent
statewide).

Inhalants4

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, Granbury ISD 7th grade
students are using inhalants at rates similar to those reported by their 7th grade counterparts
statewide.

Sixteen percent of Granbury students reported using inhalants at least once during their
lifetimes (20 percent statewide). Six percent of Granbury ISD students said they had used
inhalants during the past month (7 percent statewide).

Two percent of GISD students reported most or all of their close friends use inhalants (4
percent statewide), and 5 percent said they had attended at least one class during the past school
year while "high" on inhalants (4 percent statewide). Ten percent of GISD 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 Granbury students was correction fluid/Liquid
Paper (11 percent/11 percent statewide). Six percent of district students said they had inhaled
glue (7 percent statewide), 6 percent reported inhaling gasoline (6 percent statewide), 6 percent
said they had inhaled liquid/spray paint (7 percent statewide), and 6 percent reported inhaling
substances in the "other inhalants" category (8 percent statewide) at least once during their
lifetimes.

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.
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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In the Granbury ISD, 8 percent of students reported use of illicit drugs at least once during their
lifetimes, a rate somewhat lower than that reported by their peers statewide (15 percent). Six
percent of GISD students said they had used one or more illicit substances three or more times
(8 percent statewide). Statewide, students who said they had used illicit drugs reported using
them an average of 0.6 times in the past 30 days and 1.5 times during their lives. Granbury
students reported average usage rates of 0.5 times in the past month and 1.0 times during their
lifetimes.

Seven percent of GISD students reported using marijuana at least once in their lifetimes, a rate
somewhat lower than that reported by 7th grade students statewide (13 percent). Past-month
marijuana use was reported by 3 percent of Granbury ISD students (6 percent statewide.

Four percent of GISD students reported attending at least one class in the past year while
"stoned" on marijuana (6 percent statewide). Eighteen percent of GISD students said marijuana
was somewhat or very easy to obtain (24 percent statewide), and 4 percent reported most or all
of their close friends use marijuana (9 percent statewide). Three percent of district students said
they had gotten into "difficulties of any kind" with their friends because of their own drug use
(4 percent statewide). Three percent of the Granbury ISD students said that marijuana and/or
other drugs were used at most or all of the parties they attended during the school year (6
percent statewide).

When asked about parental attitudes toward marijuana use, Granbury students reported a
disapproval rate of 90 percent (84 percent statewide). Eight percent of district students said
they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age using marijuana (12 percent
statewide), while 1 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (2 percent
statewide).

Other illicit substances are used by a small number of Granbury ISD students. Three percent of
GISD students reported using uppers (2 percent statewide), 3 percent said they had used
hallucinogens (2 percent statewide), 2 percent reported using downers (2 percent statewide), 1
percent said they had used powdered cocaine (2 percent statewide), 1 percent reported using
crack (1 percent statewide), 1 percent said they had used steroids (2 percent statewide), and 1
percent reported using ecstasy (1 percent statewide) at least once during their lifetimes.

CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH DRUG USE

Statewide, female students were less likely to have used drugs than were male students. In the
Granbury ISD, female students were the only reported users of crack in the district. There were
no other significant differences by gender among GISD students with regard to the use of
tobacco products, alcohol, inhalants, marijuana, or other illicit substances.

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In the statewide survey, students living in two-parent homes reported lower drug use than did
students living in other family situations. GISD students living in other family situations were
somewhat more likely to have used hallucinogens or uppers, nearly two times more likely to
have used tobacco products, alcohol, or inhalants, and nearly three times more likely to have
smoked marijuana than were those district students living in homes with two parents. In
addition, GISD students living in other family situations were the only reported users of steroids
or ecstasy. There were no other significant differences by living arrangement among Granbury
ISD students with regard to the use of powdered cocaine, crack, or downers.

When asked where they would go for help with a drug or alcohol problem, the largest
percentage of Granbury students said they would seek help from their friends (73 percent), a
rate somewhat higher than that reported by 7th grade students statewide (65 percent). Sixty-
seven percent of GISD students said they would seek help from their parents (62 percent
statewide), and 57 percent said they would turn to an adult friend or relative (57 percent
statewide). District students are least likely to seek help from another adult in school, such as a
teacher or nurse (35 percent/39 percent statewide). Since school began in the Fall, 8 percent of
Granbury students reported seeking help for any problems connected with alcohol or drug use
from someone other than family or friends (7 percent statewide).

Eighty-four percent of Granbury ISD students said they had gotten information about drugs and
alcohol from a school source since classes began in the Fall (83 percent statewide). Fifty-three
percent of GISD students reported getting information about drugs and alcohol from a "health
class" (52 percent statewide). "An assembly program" was reported by 39 percent of district
students as a source for information about drugs and alcohol (55 percent statewide), while 31
percent said "an invited school guest" was a source for this information (48 percent statewide),
rates lower than those reported by 7th grade students statewide.

The influence of drug education programs may be reflected in students' attitudes toward the use
of specific substances. Eighty-eight percent of Granbury students believe that crack use is "very
dangerous" (90 percent statewide), and 88 percent believe that powdered cocaine use is "very
dangerous" (89 percent statewide). Eighty-three percent of GISD students believe that
marijuana use is "very dangerous" (80 percent statewide), and 76 percent believe that inhalant
use is "very dangerous" (76 percent statewide). By contrast, the perceived danger of alcohol
and tobacco use is lower. Only 52 percent of GISD students feel that it is "very dangerous" to
use alcohol (54 percent statewide), while 48 percent believe that tobacco use is "very
dangerous" (54 percent statewide).