TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE

JONESBORO 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 Jonesboro Independent School District (JISD). A total of
78 students completed the questionnaire, which asked about students' experiences with alcohol
and drugs. Of that number, 5 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 73.1

Students' responses to the questionnaire indicate that:

•Fifty-seven percent of Jonesboro ISD students reported using tobacco at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 25 percent said they had used tobacco during
the past month (Fig. 2).

•Seven percent of JISD students said they smoke cigarettes on a daily basis, while 5
percent reported using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis.

•Eighty percent of Jonesboro ISD students said they had used alcohol at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 26 percent reported using alcohol during the
past month (Fig. 2).

•Five percent of JISD students reported attending at least one class during the past year
while "drunk," and 21 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."

•Lifetime use of inhalants was reported by 9 percent of district students (Fig. 1), while
past-month inhalant use was not reported (Fig. 2).

1
The percentages referred to in the executive summary were taken from the tables found in "Part I
(Standardized): District Survey Results." Sixth grade student participation in the secondary survey has been
eliminated throughout this report so that comparisons can be made with statewide data. 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
•Eleven* percent of JISD students reported using marijuana at least once during their
lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 1 percent said they had used marijuana during the past
month (Fig. 2).2

•Jonesboro ISD students are most likely to turn to friends for help with a drug or alcohol
problem (90* percent) and least likely to consult a counselor or program in
school (31 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 Jonesboro ISD students is similar to that reported by their counterparts
statewide.

Fifty-seven percent of Jonesboro students reported general tobacco use at least once during their
lifetimes (55 percent statewide) (Fig. 1).3 Twenty-five percent of Jonesboro ISD students said
they had used a tobacco product during the past month (24 percent statewide) (Fig. 2).

Fifty-one percent of Jonesboro students reported smoking cigarettes at least once during their
lifetimes (52 percent statewide), and 19 percent said they had smoked cigarettes during the past
month (22 percent statewide). Smoking cigarettes on a daily basis was reported by 7 percent of
district students (7 percent statewide), while 9 percent said most or all of their close friends
smoke cigarettes (19 percent statewide).

Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 38* percent of JISD students, a
rate higher than that reported by their peers statewide (17 percent). Ten percent of Jonesboro
students 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 5 percent of
district students (2 percent statewide), and 11 percent said most or all of their close friends use
smokeless tobacco (5 percent statewide).

Alcohol

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.

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

2
Alcohol is the most widely used substance among students statewide and in the Jonesboro ISD.
Alcohol use among secondary students statewide was similar to that reported two years ago.
Overall, Jonesboro ISD students are drinking alcohol at rates similar to those reported by their
peers statewide.

Eighty percent of Jonesboro students reported consuming alcohol at least once during their
lifetimes (74 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Twenty-six percent of Jonesboro ISD students said
they had consumed alcohol during the past month (39 percent statewide) (Fig. 2).

The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by Jonesboro students are beer (65 percent/59
percent statewide) and wine coolers (64 percent/61 percent statewide). Thirty-eight percent of
JISD students said they drink beer on a weekly or monthly basis (37 percent statewide), and 24
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. Thirty-nine percent of Jonesboro ISD students reported "binge
drinking" beer at least once during the past-year (39 percent statewide), while 21 percent said
they usually drink five or more beers at a time on average when they drink (20 percent
statewide). Past-year "binge drinking" of wine coolers was reported by 48 percent of JISD
students (41 percent statewide), while 15 percent said they usually drink five or more wine
coolers at a time on average when they drink (19 percent statewide).

Five percent of Jonesboro students reported attending at least one class during the past school
year while "drunk" (10 percent statewide) (Fig. 9). Twenty-one percent of JISD 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). Driving while intoxicated four or more times
during the past year was not reported by 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-eight percent of Jonesboro ISD students said beer, wine, wine coolers, or
liquor were somewhat easy or very easy to obtain (77 percent statewide). Twenty-four percent
of district students reported most or all of their close friends drink alcohol (40 percent
statewide), and 28 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 6 percent of JISD students (10 percent
statewide).

Thirty-one percent of Jonesboro students said alcohol was used at most or all of the parties they
attended in the past school year (39 percent statewide) (Fig. 12). Thirty-one percent of district
students responded "at parties" when asked where they obtained alcohol most of the time or
always (44 percent statewide), while 8 percent of JISD students said they get alcohol "from the
store" most of the time or always (21 percent statewide).

3
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. None of the JISD students who had not been absent since the Fall
reported having used alcohol during the past month (26 percent statewide). Thirty-three percent
of district students who said they had missed four or more days of school reported having used
alcohol during the past month (47 percent statewide). Eighty-six 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, 14 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 Jonesboro students
said their parents strongly or mildly disapprove (75 percent statewide). Five percent of district
students said they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age drinking beer (10
percent statewide), and 14 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 students statewide decreased. Overall, Jonesboro ISD students are using
inhalants at rates similar to those reported by their counterparts statewide.

Nine percent of Jonesboro students reported using inhalants at least once during their lifetimes
(19 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). None of the Jonesboro ISD students said they had used
inhalants during the past month (5 percent statewide) (Fig. 2).

None of JISD students reported most or all of their close friends use inhalants (3 percent
statewide), and 2 percent said they had attended at least one class during the past school year
while "high" on inhalants (3 percent statewide). Five percent of JISD 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 JISD students were substances in the "other
inhalants" category (6 percent/8 percent statewide). Five percent of district students said they
had inhaled correction fluid/Liquid Paper (5 percent/10 percent statewide), 4 percent reported
that they had inhaled paint thinner (6 percent statewide), 3 percent said they had inhaled

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.

4
liquid/spray paint (7 percent statewide), and 2 percent said they had inhaled glue (6 percent
statewide) at least once during their lifetimes (Fig. 7).

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 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 Jonesboro ISD, 14 percent of students reported use of illicit drugs at least once during
their lifetimes (28 percent statewide), while 3 percent of JISD 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. Jonesboro students reported average usage rates of 0 times in
the past month and 0.7 times during their lifetimes.

Eleven* percent of JISD students reported using marijuana at least once in their lifetimes, a rate
lower than that reported by their peers statewide (25 percent) (Fig. 1). Past-month marijuana
use was reported by 1 percent of Jonesboro ISD students (12 percent statewide) (Fig. 2).

Four percent of JISD students reported attending at least one class in the past year while
"stoned" on marijuana (9 percent statewide) (Fig. 10). Driving under the influence of drugs at
least once during the past year was reported by 4 percent Jonesboro ISD 9th through 12th grade
students (8 percent statewide).

Thirty-six percent of JISD students said marijuana was somewhat or very easy to obtain (48
percent statewide), and none reported most or all of their close friends use marijuana (17
percent statewide). Two 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). One percent of the
Jonesboro 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).

When asked about parental attitudes toward marijuana use, Jonesboro students reported a
disapproval rate of 100* percent (87 percent statewide). None of the district students said they
"don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age using marijuana (8 percent statewide),
and none said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (4 percent statewide) (Fig. 15).

Steroids are the next most frequently used illicit substance among Jonesboro ISD students (5
percent/2 percent statewide). Four percent of JISD students reported using uppers (7 percent
statewide), 3 percent said they had used hallucinogens (6 percent statewide), 2 percent reported
using downers (5 percent statewide), and 1 percent said they had used powdered cocaine (5
percent statewide) at least once during their lifetimes (Fig. 1).

5
CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH DRUG USE

Statewide, female students were less likely to have used drugs than were male students. In the
Jonesboro ISD, male students were somewhat more likely to have used tobacco, over two times
more likely to have used inhalants, and over three times more likely to have used marijuana
than were district female students. JISD females, on the other hand, were the only reported
users of cocaine, uppers, or downers. There were no other significant differences by gender
among JISD students with regard to alcohol or other illegal drug use.

Statewide, students making A and B grades reported lower drug use than did students making
C, D, and F grades. In the Jonesboro ISD, students reporting lower grades were over three
times more likely to have used inhalants or marijuana than were those students making A and B
grades. JISD students reporting C, D, and F grades were the only reported users of cocaine,
hallucinogens. or steroids. District students reporting A and B grades, on the other hand, were
the only reported users of downers. There were no significant differences by grade average
among JISD students with regard to tobacco, alcohol, or other illicit drug use.

In the statewide survey, students living in two-parent homes reported lower drug use than did
students living in other family situations. JISD students living in other family situations were
the only reported users of cocaine or downers in the district. On the other hand, JISD students
living with two parents were nearly three times more likely to have used inhalants or marijuana
than were students living in other family situations. There were no other significant differences
by living arrangement among Jonesboro ISD students with regard to tobacco, alcohol, or other
illicit substance use.

When asked where they would go for help with a drug or alcohol problem, the largest
percentage of Jonesboro students said they would seek help from their friends (90* percent/74
percent statewide). Sixty-one percent of JISD students said they would seek help from an adult
friend or relative (57 percent statewide), and 53 percent said they would turn to their parents (54
percent statewide). District students are least likely to seek help from a counselor or program in
school (31 percent/35 percent statewide) (Fig. 17). Since school began in the Fall, 3 percent of
Jonesboro students reported seeking help for any problems connected with alcohol or drug use
from someone other than family or friends (7 percent statewide).

Sixty-eight percent of Jonesboro 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 59 percent of district students as a source for this
information (53 percent statewide), while 41 percent said "an invited school guest" was a source
for information about drugs and alcohol (46 percent statewide). Thirty-four percent of JISD
students reported getting information about drugs and alcohol from a "health class" (46 percent
statewide).

6
The influence of drug education programs may be reflected in students' attitudes toward the use
of specific substances. Ninety percent of Jonesboro students believe that crack use is "very
dangerous" (91 percent statewide), and 90 percent believe that powdered cocaine use is "very
dangerous" (90 percent statewide). Seventy-three percent of JISD students believe that inhalant
use is "very dangerous" (77 percent statewide), and 78 percent believe that marijuana use is
"very dangerous" (67 percent statewide). By contrast, the perceived danger of alcohol and
tobacco use is lower. Only 39 percent of JISD students feel that it is "very dangerous" to use
alcohol (46 percent statewide), while 36 percent believe that tobacco use is "very dangerous"
(41 percent statewide) (Fig. 13).