TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE

LEONARD 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 Leonard Independent School District (LISD). A total of
299 students completed the questionnaire, which asked about students' experiences with alcohol
and drugs. Of that number, 15 surveys were excluded from analysis because the 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 284.1

Students' responses to the questionnaire indicate that:

•Fifty-nine percent of Leonard ISD students reported using tobacco at least once during
their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 27 percent said they had used tobacco during the past
month (Fig. 2).

•Twelve percent of Leonard ISD students said they smoke cigarettes on a daily basis,
while 5* percent reported using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis.2

•Sixty-nine percent of Leonard ISD students said they had used alcohol at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 36 percent reported using alcohol during the
past month (Fig. 2).

•Seven percent of Leonard ISD students reported attending at least one class during the
past year while "drunk," and 22 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 15 percent of Leonard ISD students (Fig. 1),
while past-month inhalant use was reported by 2* percent (Fig. 2).

•Eighteen* percent of Leonard ISD students reported using marijuana at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 5* percent said they had used marijuana
during the past month (Fig. 2).

•Leonard ISD students are most likely to turn to friends for help with a drug or alcohol
problem (79 percent) and least likely to consult another adult in school, such as a
teacher or nurse (32 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 Leonard ISD students is similar to that reported by their counterparts statewide.

Fifty-nine percent of Leonard students reported general tobacco use at least once during their
lifetimes (55 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Lifetime tobacco use was reported by 50 percent of
district 7th and 8th graders (46 percent statewide) and 64 percent of LISD 9th through 12th
graders (60 percent statewide).

Twenty-seven percent of Leonard ISD students said they had used a tobacco product during the
past month (24 percent statewide) (Fig. 2). Past-month general tobacco use was reported by 16
percent of LISD 7th and 8th grade students (20 percent statewide) and 32 percent of district 9th
through 12th grade students (27 percent statewide).

Fifty-five percent of Leonard students reported smoking cigarettes at least once during their
lifetimes (52 percent statewide), and 21 percent said they had smoked cigarettes during the past
month (22 percent statewide). Smoking cigarettes on a daily basis was reported by 12 percent
of district students (7 percent statewide). Daily use of cigarettes was reported by 4 percent of
Leonard 7th and 8th grade students (4 percent statewide). Sixteen percent of district 9th
through 12th grade students reported daily cigarette use (9 percent statewide). Eighteen percent
of LISD students said most or all of their close friends smoke cigarettes (19 percent statewide).

Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 30* percent of LISD students, a
rate higher than that reported by their peers statewide (17 percent). Ten* percent of Leonard
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

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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district students (2 percent statewide), and 10* 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 Leonard ISD.
Alcohol use among secondary students in 1994 was similar to that reported in 1992. Overall,
Leonard ISD students are drinking alcohol at rates similar to those reported by their peers
statewide.

Sixty-nine percent of Leonard students reported consuming alcohol at least once during their
lifetimes (74 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Lifetime alcohol use was reported by 53 percent of
LISD 7th and 8th graders, a rate lower than that reported by 7th and 8th graders statewide (63
percent). Seventy-eight percent of district 9th through 12th graders said they had consumed
alcohol at least once during their lifetimes (81 percent statewide) (Fig. 3).

Thirty-six percent of Leonard ISD students said they had consumed alcohol during the past
month (39 percent statewide) (Fig. 2). Past-month alcohol use was reported by 15* percent of
district 7th and 8th grade students, a rate lower than that reported by 7th and 8th grade students
statewide (29 percent). Forty-eight percent of LISD 9th through 12th grade students reported
past-month alcohol use (46 percent statewide) (Fig. 4).

The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by Leonard students are beer (58 percent/59
percent statewide) and wine coolers (58 percent/61 percent statewide). Thirty-four percent of
LISD students said they drink beer on a weekly or monthly basis (37 percent statewide), and 29
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. Forty percent of Leonard ISD students reported "binge
drinking" beer at least once during their lifetimes (39 percent statewide), and 26 percent said
they usually drink five or more beers at a time on average when they drink (20 percent
statewide). Lifetime "binge drinking" of wine coolers was reported by 41 percent of LISD
students (41 percent statewide), and 25 percent said they usually drink five or more wine
coolers at a time on average when they drink (19 percent statewide).

Seven percent of Leonard students reported attending at least one class during the past school
year while "drunk" (10 percent statewide). Attending class while intoxicated was reported by 5
percent of LISD 7th and 8th graders (9 percent statewide) and 8 percent of district 9th through
12th graders (10 percent statewide) (Fig. 9).

Twenty-two percent of LISD 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, a rate somewhat higher than
that reported by 9th through 12th grade students statewide (15 percent). Driving while

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intoxicated four or more times during the past year was reported by 6 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-nine percent of Leonard ISD students said beer, wine, wine coolers, or liquor
were somewhat easy or very easy to obtain (77 percent statewide). Thirty-five percent of
district students reported most or all of their close friends drink alcohol (40 percent statewide),
and 40 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 LISD students (10 percent statewide).

Thirty-two percent of Leonard students said alcohol was used at most or all of the parties they
attended in the past school year, a rate somewhat lower than that reported by students statewide
(39 percent). Alcohol use at most or all parties was reported by 7* percent of district 7th and
8th graders, a rate lower than that reported by 7th and 8th graders statewide (19 percent).
Forty-four percent of LISD 9th through 12th graders reported alcohol use at most or all parties,
compared to 51 percent of 9th through 12th graders statewide (Fig. 12). Thirty-eight percent of
district students responded "at parties" when asked where they obtain alcohol most of the time
or always (44 percent statewide), and 16 percent of LISD 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 LISD students who had not been absent since the Fall
reported having used alcohol during the past month (29 percent/26 percent statewide) than did
district students who said they had missed four or more days of school (44 percent/47 percent
statewide). Fifty-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 Leonard students
said their parents strongly or mildly disapprove (75 percent statewide). Nine percent of district
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).

Inhalants4

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

Fifteen percent of Leonard students reported using inhalants at least once during their lifetimes
(19 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Lifetime inhalant use was reported by 13 percent of district 7th
and 8th graders, a rate somewhat lower than that reported by 7th and 8th graders statewide (22
percent). Sixteen percent of LISD 9th through 12th graders reported lifetime inhalant use (17
percent statewide) (Figs. 5a and 5b).

Two* percent of Leonard ISD students said they had used inhalants during the past month (5
percent statewide) (Fig. 2). None of the district 7th and 8th grade students reported past-month
inhalant use (7 percent statewide). Three percent of LISD 9th through 12th grade students said
they had used inhalants during the past month (4 percent statewide) (Figs. 6a and 6b).

Two percent of LISD students reported most or all of their close friends use inhalants (3 percent
statewide), and 3 percent said they had attended at least one class during the past school year
while "high" on inhalants (3 percent statewide). Seven percent of LISD 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 Leonard students was correction fluid/Liquid
Paper (8 percent/10 percent statewide). Five percent of district students said they had inhaled
glue (6 percent statewide), 5 percent reported inhaling gasoline (6 percent statewide), 4 percent
said they had inhaled liquid/spray paint (7 percent statewide), and 4 percent reported inhaling
substances in the "other inhalants" category (8 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.

In the Leonard ISD, 21 percent of students reported use of illicit drugs at least once during their
lifetimes, a rate somewhat lower than that reported by their counterparts statewide (28 percent).
Fifteen percent of LISD 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. Leonard
students reported average usage rates of 0.6 times in the past month and 2.7 times during their
lifetimes.

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Eighteen* percent of LISD students reported using marijuana at least once in their lifetimes,
compared to 25 percent of students statewide (Fig. 1). Lifetime marijuana use was reported by
5* percent of Leonard 7th and 8th grade students, a rate lower than that reported by 7th and 8th
grade students statewide (17 percent). Twenty-five percent of district 9th through 12th grade
students reported lifetime marijuana use (31 percent statewide) (Figs. 5a and 5b).

Past-month marijuana use was reported by 5* percent of Leonard ISD students, compared to 12
percent of students statewide (Fig. 2). None of the district 7th and 8th graders reported past-
month marijuana use (8 percent statewide). Eight percent of LISD 9th through 12th graders
said they had used marijuana during the past month (14 percent statewide) (Figs. 6a and 6b).

Five percent of LISD students reported attending at least one class in the past year while
"stoned" on marijuana (9 percent statewide). Attending class while "stoned" was reported by 1*
percent of Leonard 7th and 8th graders, a rate somewhat lower than that reported by 7th and 8th
graders statewide (7 percent). Seven percent of district 9th through 12th graders said they had
attended at least one class in the past year while "stoned" on marijuana (11 percent statewide)
(Fig. 10). Driving under the influence of drugs at least once during the past year was reported
by 10 percent of Leonard ISD 9th through 12th grade students (8 percent statewide).

Thirty-eight percent of LISD students said marijuana was somewhat or very easy to obtain (38
percent statewide). Seven* percent of Leonard students reported most or all of their close
friends use marijuana, a rate lower than that reported by their peers statewide (17 percent).
Four 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).

Twelve percent of the Leonard 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). Marijuana
and/or other drug use at most or all parties was reported by 1* percent of district 7th and 8th
grade students, a rate somewhat lower than that reported by 7th and 8th grade students
statewide (9 percent). Eighteen percent of LISD 9th through 12th grade students reported
marijuana and/or other drug use at most or all parties (22 percent statewide).

When asked about parental attitudes toward marijuana use, Leonard students reported a
disapproval rate of 92* percent (87 percent statewide). Five percent of district students said
they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age using marijuana (8 percent
statewide), while 2 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (4 percent
statewide) (Fig. 15).

Other illicit substances are used by a small number of Leonard ISD students. Six percent of
LISD students reported using uppers (7 percent statewide), 4 percent said they had used
hallucinogens (6 percent statewide), 4 percent reported using downers (5 percent statewide), 3
percent said they had used powdered cocaine (5 percent statewide), 3 percent reported using
crack (2 percent statewide), 3 percent said they had used steroids (2 percent statewide), and 3
percent reported using ecstasy (3 percent statewide) at least once during their lifetimes (Fig. 1).

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CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH DRUG USE

Statewide, female students were less likely to have used drugs than were male students. In the
Leonard ISD, district males were the only students to report steroid use. There were no other
significant differences by gender among LISD 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. LISD students living in other family situations were
somewhat more likely to report use of inhalants, hallucinogens, uppers, or downers, and nearly
twice as likely to report marijuana use than were those district students living in homes with
two parents. There were no other significant differences by living arrangement among Leonard
ISD students with regard to the use of tobacco products, alcohol, or other illegal drugs.

When asked where they would go for help with a drug or alcohol problem, the largest
percentage of Leonard students said they would seek help from their friends (79 percent/74
percent statewide). Sixty-four* percent of LISD students said they would seek help from their
parents, a rate higher than that reported by students statewide (54 percent). Sixty-three percent
of Leonard students said they would turn to an adult friend or relative for help with a drug or
alcohol problem (57 percent statewide). District students are least likely to seek help from
another adult in school, such as a teacher or nurse (32 percent/33 percent statewide) (Fig. 17).
Since school began in the Fall, 3 percent of Leonard students reported seeking help for any
problems connected with alcohol or drug use from someone other than family or friends (7
percent statewide).

Eighty-six* percent of Leonard ISD students said they had gotten information about drugs and
alcohol from a school source since classes began in the Fall, compared to 79 percent of students
statewide. "An assembly program" was reported by 73* percent of district students as a source
for information about drugs and alcohol (53 percent statewide), while 65* percent said "an
invited school guest" was a source for this information (46 percent statewide), rates higher than
those reported by students statewide. Forty-seven percent of LISD 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-two percent of Leonard 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). Eighty-three percent of LISD students believe that inhalant
use is "very dangerous" (77 percent statewide). Seventy-nine* percent of district students
believe that marijuana use is "very dangerous," a rate higher than that reported by students
statewide (67 percent). By contrast, the perceived danger of alcohol and tobacco use is lower.
Only 38 percent of LISD students feel that it is "very dangerous" to use alcohol, compared to 46
percent of students statewide. Twenty-six* percent of Leonard ISD students believe that

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tobacco use is "very dangerous," a rate lower than that reported by students statewide (41
percent) (Fig. 13).