TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE

AMARILLO ISD

SECONDARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

OVERVIEW

In the Spring of 1994, 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 Amarillo Independent School District (AISD). A total of
3390 students completed the questionnaire, which asked about students' experiences with
alcohol and drugs. Of that number, 190 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 3200.1

Students' responses to the questionnaire indicate that:

•Sixty* percent of Amarillo ISD students reported using tobacco at least once during
their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 29* percent said they had used tobacco during the
past month (Fig. 2).2

•Ten* percent of AISD students said they smoke cigarettes on a daily basis, while 3*
percent reported using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis.

•Seventy-seven* percent of Amarillo ISD students said they had used alcohol at least
once during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 39 percent reported using alcohol during
the past month (Fig. 2).

•Eleven percent of AISD students reported attending at least one class during the past
year while "drunk," and 18 percent of district 9th through 12th grade students

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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 said they had driven a car at least once during the past year after having "a good
bit to drink."

•Lifetime use of inhalants was reported by 22* percent of district students (Fig. 1),
while past-month inhalant use was reported by 6 percent (Fig. 2).

•Twenty-five percent of AISD students reported using marijuana at least once during
their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 11 percent said they had used marijuana during the
past month (Fig. 2).

•Amarillo ISD students are most likely to turn to friends for help with a drug or alcohol
problem (78* percent) and least likely to consult another adult in school, such as
a teacher or nurse (29* percent) (Fig. 17).

Tobacco

Over the last two years, the general use of tobacco (including cigarettes and smokeless
products) among students statewide has stayed much the same. Overall, the general use of
tobacco products among Amarillo ISD students is somewhat higher than that reported by their
counterparts statewide.

Sixty* percent of Amarillo students reported general tobacco use at least once during their
lifetimes (55 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Lifetime general tobacco use was highest among
district 12th graders (68 percent/63 percent statewide) and Amarillo 11th graders (66 percent/61
percent statewide). Lifetime general tobacco use was lowest among AISD 7th graders (50*
percent), a rate higher than that reported by their 7th grade peers statewide (40 percent). Fifty-
nine* percent of district 8th grade students said they had used tobacco at least once during their
lifetimes, compared to 52 percent of 8th grade students statewide.

Twenty-nine* percent of Amarillo ISD students said they had used a tobacco product during the
past month (24 percent statewide) (Fig. 2). Past-month general tobacco use was highest among
AISD 11th grade students (37* percent), a rate higher than that reported by their 11th grade
counterparts statewide (27 percent). Past-month general tobacco use was lowest among district
7th graders (20* percent/16 percent statewide). Thirty-three* percent of Amarillo 10th graders
said they had used a tobacco product during the past month, a rate somewhat higher than that
reported by 10th graders statewide (27 percent).

Fifty-seven* percent of Amarillo students reported smoking cigarettes at least once during their
lifetimes (52 percent statewide), and 26* percent of Amarillo students said they had smoked
cigarettes during the past month (22 percent statewide). Smoking cigarettes on a daily basis
was reported by 10 percent of district students (7 percent statewide). Fifteen* percent of
Amarillo ISD 10th graders reported daily cigarette use (10 percent statewide). Twenty percent
of AISD students said most or all of their close friends smoke cigarettes (19 percent statewide).

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Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 23* percent of AISD students (17
percent statewide), and 8* 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 3* percent of district students (2 percent statewide), and 6 percent said most or all
of their close friends use smokeless tobacco (15 percent statewide).

Alcohol

Alcohol is the most widely used substance among students statewide and in the Amarillo ISD.
Alcohol use among secondary students statewide was similar to that reported two years ago.
Overall, Amarillo ISD students are drinking alcohol at rates somewhat higher than those
reported by their peers statewide.

Seventy-seven* percent of Amarillo students reported consuming alcohol at least once during
their lifetimes (74 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Lifetime alcohol use was lowest among AISD
7th graders (61 percent/58 percent statewide) and highest among district 12th graders (89
percent/86 percent statewide) and AISD 11th graders (86 percent/83 percent statewide).
Seventy-eight* percent of Amarillo 8th grade students said they had used alcohol at least once
during their lifetimes, a rate somewhat higher than that reported by their 8th grade counterparts
statewide (69 percent) (Fig. 3).

Thirty-nine percent of Amarillo ISD students said they had consumed alcohol during the past
month, the same rate reported by students statewide (Fig. 2). Current alcohol use was lowest
among AISD 7th graders (29* percent/24 percent statewide) and highest among district 11th
graders (50 percent/48 percent statewide) and AISD 12th graders (52 percent statewide).
Thirty-five* percent of Amarillo 9th graders said they had used alcohol during the past month, a
rate somewhat lower than that reported by 9th graders statewide (41 percent) (Fig. 4).

The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by Amarillo students are beer (65* percent/59
percent statewide) and wine coolers (66* percent/61 percent statewide). Thirty-eight percent of
AISD students said they drink beer on a weekly or monthly basis (37 percent statewide), while
35 percent said they drink wine coolers weekly or monthly (34 percent statewide).

"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 48*
percent of AISD 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), rates
somewhat higher than those reported by students statewide. Forty-three* percent of Amarillo
ISD students reported "binge drinking" beer at least once during the past year (39 percent
statewide), while 24* percent said they usually drink five or more beers at a time on average
when they drink (20 percent statewide).

Eleven percent of Amarillo 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

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from 9 percent of AISD 7th graders (7 percent statewide) to 12 percent of district 9th graders
(10 percent statewide) (Figs. 9a and 9b).

Eighteen 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 Amarillo 11th graders (30* percent),
compared to 20 percent of 11th graders statewide. Driving while intoxicated four or more times
during the past year was reported by 4 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-seven percent of Amarillo ISD students said beer, wine, wine coolers, or
liquor were somewhat easy or very easy to obtain, the same rate reported by students statewide.
Thirty-eight percent of district students reported most or all of their close friends drink alcohol
(40 percent statewide), and 44* percent 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 10 percent of AISD students (10
percent statewide).

Forty-one* percent of Amarillo students said alcohol was used at most or all of the parties they
attended in the past school year (39 percent statewide). The highest rate of alcohol use at most
or all parties was reported by AISD 11th graders (65* percent), a rate somewhat higher than
that reported by their 11th grade peers statewide (58 percent). Thirty-two* percent of Amarillo
8th graders (24 percent statewide) and 18* percent of district 7th graders (13 percent statewide)
said that alcohol was used at most or all of the parties they attended during the past school year,
rates somewhat higher than those reported by their counterparts statewide (Figs. 12a and 12b).

Forty-five percent of district students responded "at parties" when asked where they obtained
alcohol most of the time or always (44 percent statewide), while 13* percent of AISD students
said they get alcohol "from the store" most of the time or always (21 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 (25 percent/26 percent statewide) than did
district students who said they had missed four or more days of school (44 percent/47 percent
statewide). Sixty-four 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 26 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, 75 percent of Amarillo students
said their parents strongly or mildly disapprove (75 percent statewide). Nine 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 12 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (11 percent
statewide) (Fig. 15).

Inhalants3

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

Twenty-two percent of Amarillo students reported using inhalants at least once during their
lifetimes (19 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Lifetime inhalant use was highest among district 8th
grade students (31* percent), a rate somewhat higher than that reported by 8th grade students
statewide (24 percent). Twenty-five* percent of AISD 7th graders said they had used inhalants
at least once during their lifetimes (20 percent statewide). Lifetime inhalant use was lowest
among Amarillo 12th graders (11 percent/15 percent statewide) (Figs. 5a and 5b).

Six percent of Amarillo ISD students said they had used inhalants during the past month (5
percent statewide) (Fig. 2). Rates of current inhalant use ranged from 2 percent of AISD 11th
graders (2 percent statewide) and 2 percent of Amarillo 12th graders (2 percent statewide) to 10
percent of district 8th graders (8 percent statewide) (Figs. 6a and 6b).

Three percent of AISD students reported most or all of their close friends use inhalants (3
percent statewide), and 5* percent said they had attended at least one class during the past
school year while "high" on inhalants (3 percent statewide). Fourteen* 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 Amarillo students were correction fluid/Liquid
Paper (10 percent/10 percent statewide) and substances in the "other inhalants" category (10*
percent/8 percent statewide). Nine* percent of district students said they had inhaled gasoline
(6 percent statewide), 8* percent said they had inhaled liquid/spray paint (7 percent statewide),
7* percent reported inhaling glue (6 percent statewide), and 5* percent reported inhaling
substances in the "other sprays" category (4 percent statewide) at least once during their
lifetimes (Figs. 7a and 7b).

Illicit Drugs

3 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 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 Amarillo ISD, 29 percent of students reported use of illicit drugs at least once during
their lifetimes (28 percent statewide), while 19 percent of AISD 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. Amarillo students reported average usage rates of 1.2 times in
the past month and 4.1 times during their lifetimes.

Twenty-five percent of AISD students reported using marijuana at least once in their lifetimes,
the same rate reported by students statewide (Fig. 1). Lifetime marijuana use was highest
among Amarillo 12th graders (31 percent/34 percent statewide) and district 11th graders (31
percent/32 percent statewide) and was lowest among AISD 7th graders (16 percent/13 percent
statewide) (Figs. 5a and 5b).

Past-month marijuana use was reported by 11 percent of Amarillo ISD students (12 percent
statewide) (Fig. 2). The rates of current marijuana use ranged from 8 percent of Amarillo 7th
graders (6 percent statewide) and 8* percent of district 12th graders (14 percent statewide) to 14
percent of AISD 10th graders (14 percent statewide) (Figs. 6a and 6b).

Ten percent of AISD 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 8 percent of Amarillo 7th graders (6 percent statewide) and 8 percent of district 12th
graders (9 percent statewide) to 13 percent of AISD 9th graders (12 percent statewide) (Figs.
10a and 10b). Driving under the influence of drugs at least once during the past year was
reported by 9 percent of Amarillo ISD 9th through 12th grade students (8 percent statewide).
Driving under the influence of drugs was highest among AISD 11th graders (14 percent/10
percent statewide).

Forty-four* percent of AISD 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 Amarillo ISD students said that marijuana and/or other drugs were used at
most or all of the parties they attended during the school year, the same rate reported by
students statewide. The lowest reported drug use at parties was among district 7th graders (10*
percent/6 percent statewide). Twenty-two percent of AISD 11th grade students said that
marijuana and/or other drugs were used at most or all of the parties they attended during the
past school year (25 percent statewide).

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Fewer Amarillo 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 (13 percent/15 percent statewide). Four
percent of district students who had not gotten into trouble with school officials reported using
marijuana within the past 30 days (4 percent statewide). By contrast, 29 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 (31 percent statewide).

When asked about parental attitudes toward marijuana use, Amarillo students reported a
disapproval rate of 87 percent (87 percent statewide). Six percent of district students said they
"don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age using marijuana (8 percent statewide),
while 4 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (4 percent statewide) (Fig.
17).

Uppers are the next most frequently used illicit substance among Amarillo ISD students (10*
percent/7 percent statewide). Fourteen percent of district 11th graders reported lifetime use of
uppers (10 percent statewide) (Figs. 6a and 6b). Six percent of AISD students said they had
used hallucinogens (6 percent statewide), 5 percent reported using downers (5 percent
statewide), and 5 percent said they had used powdered cocaine (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. In the
Amarillo ISD, there were no significant differences by gender with regard to the use of tobacco,
alcohol, inhalants, marijuana, or other illicit drugs.

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
nearly two times more likely to have used marijuana or uppers than were those district students
living in homes with two parents. There were no other significant differences by living
arrangement among Amarillo ISD students with regard to tobacco, alcohol, inhalant, or illegal
drug use.

When asked where they would go for help with a drug or alcohol problem, the largest
percentage of Amarillo students said they would seek help from their friends (78* percent/74
percent statewide). Fifty-six percent of AISD students said they would seek help from an adult
friend or relative (57 percent statewide), and 50* 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 (29* percent/33 percent statewide), a medical doctor (32*
percent/38 percent statewide), or a counselor or program in school (33* percent/35 percent
statewide) (Fig. 17). Since school began in the Fall, 6 percent of Amarillo students reported
seeking help for any problems connected with alcohol or drug use from someone other than
family or friends (7 percent statewide).

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Eighty-one percent of Amarillo ISD students said they had gotten information about drugs and
alcohol from a school source since classes began in the Fall (79 percent statewide). "An
assembly program" was reported by 60* percent of district students as a source for this
information (53 percent statewide), while 48* percent said "an invited school guest" was a
source for information about drugs and alcohol (46 percent statewide). Forty-seven percent of
AISD students reported getting information about drugs and alcohol from a "health class" (46
percent statewide).

The influence of drug education programs may be reflected in students' attitudes toward the use
of specific substances. Ninety-three* percent of Amarillo students believe that crack use is
"very dangerous" (91 percent statewide), and 92* percent believe that powdered cocaine use is
"very dangerous" (90 percent statewide). Seventy-six percent of AISD students believe that
inhalant use is "very dangerous" (77 percent statewide), and 67 percent believe that marijuana
use is "very dangerous" (67 percent statewide). By contrast, the perceived danger of alcohol
and tobacco use is lower. Only 44 percent of AISD students feel that it is "very dangerous" to
use alcohol (46 percent statewide). Thirty-five* percent of Amarillo ISD students believe that
tobacco use is "very dangerous," a rate somewhat lower than that reported by students statewide
(41 percent) (Fig. 13).