TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE

CANYON ISD

SECONDARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

OVERVIEW

In the Spring of 1996, 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 Canyon Independent School District (CISD). A total of 374 students completed
the questionnaire, which asked about students' experiences with alcohol and drugs. Of that
number, 23 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 351.1

Students' responses to the questionnaire indicate that:

•Thirty-six percent of Canyon 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 Canyon ISD students said they smoke cigarettes on a daily basis, while 1
percent reported using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis.

•Forty-three percent of Canyon ISD students said they had used alcohol at least once
during their lifetimes, and 17 percent reported using alcohol during the past
month.

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

•Lifetime use of inhalants was reported by 19 percent of Canyon ISD students, while
past-month inhalant use was reported by 10 percent.

•Eight percent of Canyon ISD students reported using marijuana at least once during
their lifetimes, and 4 percent said they had used marijuana during the past month.

•Canyon ISD students are most likely to turn to friends for help with a drug or alcohol
problem (76 percent) and least likely to consult another adult in school, such as a
teacher or nurse (37 percent).

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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Tobacco

Over the last two years, the general use of tobacco (including cigarettes and smokeless products)
among 7th grade students statewide has stayed about the same.2 Overall, the general use of
tobacco products among Canyon ISD 7th graders is somewhat similar to that reported by their
counterparts statewide.

Thirty-six percent of Canyon students reported general tobacco use at least once during their
lifetimes (41 percent statewide). Eighteen percent of Canyon ISD students said they had used a
tobacco product during the past month (17 percent statewide).

Thirty-four percent of Canyon students reported smoking cigarettes at least once during their
lifetimes (40 percent statewide), while 16 percent said they had smoked cigarettes during the past
month (16 percent statewide), and 5 percent reported smoking cigarettes on a daily basis (3
percent statewide). Eight percent of district students said most or all of their close friends smoke
cigarettes.3

Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 13 percent of CISD students (10
percent statewide), while 5 percent said they had used a smokeless tobacco product during the
past month (3 percent statewide), and 1 percent reported using a smokeless tobacco product on
a daily basis (1 percent statewide). Two percent of district students 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 Canyon ISD.
Alcohol use among 7th grade students statewide was similar to that reported two years ago.
Overall, Canyon ISD 7th graders are drinking alcohol at rates somewhat lower than those
reported by their peers statewide.

Forty-three percent of Canyon students reported consuming alcohol at least once during their
lifetimes, compared to 56 percent of students statewide. Seventeen percent of Canyon ISD
students said they had consumed alcohol during the past month (23 percent statewide).

The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by Canyon students are beer (27 percent/36
percent statewide) and wine coolers (32 percent/38 percent statewide). Twelve percent of CISD

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 the Spring of 1996.

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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students said they drink beer on a weekly or monthly basis (19 percent statewide), and 12 percent
said they drink wine coolers weekly or monthly (20 percent statewide), rates somewhat lower
than those reported by 7th grade students statewide.

"Binge drinking" is the consumption of five or more beers, wine coolers, servings of wine, or
drinks with liquor at one time. Fifteen percent of Canyon ISD students reported "binge drinking"
beer at least once during their lifetimes, a rate somewhat lower than that reported by their
counterparts statewide (23 percent). Nine percent of district students said they usually drink five
or more beers at a time on average when they drink (9 percent statewide). Lifetime "binge
drinking" of wine coolers was reported by 20 percent of CISD 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).

Students were asked about the availability of alcohol, its use at school, its use among friends, and
its use at parties. Fifty-two percent of Canyon ISD students said beer, wine, wine coolers, or
liquor were somewhat easy or very easy to obtain (54 percent statewide). Seven percent of
Canyon students reported attending at least one class during the past school year while "drunk"
(7 percent statewide).

Eight percent of district students reported most or all of their close friends drink alcohol, half the
rate reported by 7th grade students statewide (17 percent). Fourteen percent of CISD students
responded "from friends" when asked where they obtained alcohol most of the time or always,
while 3 percent reported "difficulties of any kind" with friends because of one's own drinking (4
percent statewide).

Seven percent of Canyon 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 their peers
statewide (12 percent). Fifteen percent of district students responded "at parties" when asked
where they obtain alcohol most of the time or always, while 1 percent of CISD 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 CISD students who had not been absent since the Fall
reported having used alcohol during the past month (14 percent) than did district students who
said they had missed four or more days of school (18 percent). Thirty-nine percent of the
Canyon 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 Canyon students
said their parents strongly or mildly disapprove, a rate somewhat higher than that reported by 7th
grade students statewide (77 percent). Eight percent of district students said they "don't know"

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how their parents feel about kids their age drinking beer (15 percent statewide), and 7 percent
said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (5 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. Over the last two years,
use of inhalants among 7th grade students statewide stayed about the same. Overall, Canyon ISD
7th graders are using inhalants at rates similar to those reported by their counterparts statewide.

Nineteen percent of Canyon students reported using inhalants at least once during their lifetimes
(22 percent statewide). Ten percent of Canyon ISD students said they had used inhalants during
the past month (8 percent statewide).

Two percent of CISD students reported most or all of their close friends use inhalants (4 percent
statewide), and 7 percent said they had attended at least one class during the past school year
while "high" on inhalants (5 percent statewide). Twelve percent of CISD students said they had
used two or more different kinds of inhalant substances during their lifetimes (14 percent
statewide).

The inhalant substances most frequently used by Canyon students were correction fluid/Liquid
Paper (11 percent/11 percent statewide), glue (10 percent/7 percent statewide), and those in the
"other inhalants" category (9 percent/10 percent statewide). Six percent of district students
reported inhaling gasoline (6 percent statewide), 6 percent said they had inhaled liquid/spray
paint (7 percent statewide), 6 percent said they had inhaled paint thinner (6 percent statewide),
and 5 percent reported inhaling substances in the "other sprays" category (6 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. Over the last
two years, the use of illicit drugs among 7th grade students statewide has increased. The use of
marijuana, the most frequently used illicit substance, has also increased among 7th graders
statewide over the last two years.

In the Canyon ISD, 11 percent of students reported use of illicit drugs at least once during their
lifetimes (19 percent statewide), while 7 percent of CISD students said they had used one or

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
more illicit substances three or more times (12 percent statewide), rates somewhat lower than
those reported by 7th grade students statewide. Statewide, 7th grade students who said they had
used illicit drugs reported using them an average of 1.0 times in the past 30 days and 2.4 times
during their lives. Canyon students reported average usage rates of 0.7 times in the past month
and 2.2 times during their lifetimes.

Eight percent of CISD students reported using marijuana at least once in their lifetimes, a rate
lower than that reported by their counterparts statewide (17 percent). Past-month marijuana use
was reported by 4 percent of Canyon ISD students, compared to 9 percent of 7th grade students
statewide.

Five percent of Canyon ISD students reported attending at least one class in the past year while
"stoned" on marijuana (7 percent statewide). Seventeen percent of CISD students said marijuana
was somewhat or very easy to obtain (26 percent statewide), and 4 percent reported most or all
of their close friends use marijuana (11 percent statewide), rates somewhat lower than those
reported by 7th grade students statewide. Four 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). Five percent of the Canyon ISD students said that marijuana and/or other drugs were
used at most or all of the parties they attended during the school year (8 percent statewide).

When asked about parental attitudes toward marijuana use, Canyon students reported a
disapproval rate of 90 percent, a rate higher than that reported by 7th grade students statewide
(82 percent). Seven percent of district students said they "don't know" how their parents feel
about kids their age using marijuana (13 percent statewide), while 2 percent said their parents
neither approve nor disapprove (2 percent statewide).

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

CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH DRUG USE

Statewide, female students were somewhat less likely to have used drugs than were male
students. In the Canyon ISD, male students were somewhat more likely to have used a steroid
than were district female students. On the other hand, CISD female students were somewhat
more likely to have used an upper than were their male counterparts in the district. There were
no other significant differences by gender among CISD students with regard to the use of
tobacco products, alcohol, inhalants, marijuana, or other illicit substances.

When asked where they would go for help with a drug or alcohol problem, the largest percentage
of Canyon students said they would seek help from their friends (76 percent/65 percent

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statewide). Sixty-four percent of CISD students said they would seek help from an adult friend
or relative (58 percent statewide), and 63 percent said they would turn to their parents (61
percent statewide). District students are least likely to seek help from another adult in school,
such as a teacher or nurse (37 percent/39 percent statewide). Since school began in the Fall, 4
percent of Canyon students reported seeking help for any problems connected with alcohol or
drug use from someone other than family or friends (8 percent statewide).

Ninety-one percent of Canyon ISD students said they had gotten information about drugs and
alcohol from a school source since classes began in the Fall, in contrast to the 80 percent
reported by 7th grade students statewide. Sixty-one percent of CISD students reported getting
information about drugs and alcohol from a "health class," a rate higher than that reported by
their peers statewide (49 percent). "An assembly program" was reported by 53 percent of
district students as a source for information about drugs and alcohol (50 percent statewide),
while 45 percent said "an invited school guest" was a source for this information (45 percent
statewide).

The influence of drug education programs may be reflected in students' attitudes toward the use
of specific substances. Eighty-nine percent of Canyon students believe that crack use is "very
dangerous" (86 percent statewide), and 89 percent believe that powdered cocaine use is "very
dangerous" (86 percent statewide). Eighty-three percent of district students believe that
marijuana use is "very dangerous," a rate somewhat higher than that reported by 7th grade
students statewide (75 percent). Seventy-five percent of CISD students believe that inhalant use
is "very dangerous" (75 percent statewide). By contrast, the perceived danger of alcohol and
tobacco use is lower. Fifty-six percent of CISD students feel that it is "very dangerous" to use
alcohol (52 percent statewide), while 49 percent believe that tobacco use is "very dangerous" (53
percent statewide).