TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE

SPRING BRANCH 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 8, 10, and 12 in the Spring Branch Independent School District (SBISD). A
total of 1481 students completed the questionnaire, which asked about students' experiences
with alcohol and drugs. Of that number, 85 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 1396.1

Students' responses to the questionnaire indicate that:

•Fifty-six percent of Spring Branch ISD students reported using tobacco at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 28 percent said they had used tobacco during
the past month (Fig. 2).

•Nine percent of SBISD students said they smoke cigarettes on a daily basis, while 1
percent reported using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis.

•Seventy-four* percent of Spring Branch ISD students said they had used alcohol at
least once during their lifetimes (Fig. 1),2 and 41 percent reported using alcohol
during the past month (Fig. 2).

•Eight* percent of SBISD students reported attending at least one class during the past
year while "drunk," and 18 percent of district 10th and 12th grade students said

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 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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 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 15* percent of district students (Fig. 1),
while past-month inhalant use was reported by 3* percent (Fig. 2).

•Twenty-three* percent of SBISD students reported using marijuana at least once during
their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 12 percent said they had used marijuana during the
past month (Fig. 2).

•Spring Branch 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 nurse or teacher (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 Spring Branch ISD students is similar to that reported by their
counterparts statewide.

Fifty-six percent of Spring Branch students reported general tobacco use at least once during
their lifetimes (57 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Lifetime tobacco use was reported by 45*
percent of district 8th graders, a rate somewhat lower than that reported by 8th graders
statewide (52 percent). Fifty-nine percent of SBISD 10th grade students (60 percent statewide)
and 67 percent of district 12th grade students (63 percent statewide) said they had used a
tobacco product at least once during their lifetimes.

Twenty-eight percent of Spring Branch ISD students said they had used a tobacco product
during the past month (26 percent statewide) (Fig. 2). Current general tobacco use was reported
by 21 percent of SBISD 8th grade students (23 percent statewide) and 28 percent of district
10th grade students (27 percent statewide). Thirty-eight percent of SBISD 12th graders said
they had used a tobacco product during the past month, a rate somewhat higher than that
reported by 12th graders statewide (31 percent).

Fifty-four percent of Spring Branch students reported smoking cigarettes at least once during
their lifetimes (55 percent statewide), and 25 percent said they had smoked cigarettes during the
past month (24 percent statewide). Smoking cigarettes on a daily basis was reported by 9
percent of district students (8 percent statewide). The highest rate of daily cigarette use was
reported by SBISD 12th graders (15 percent/12 percent statewide). Twenty-two percent of
Spring Branch ISD students said most or all of their close friends smoke cigarettes (21 percent
statewide).

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Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 17 percent of SBISD students (19
percent statewide), while 7 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 1 percent of district students (2 percent statewide), while 6 percent said most or all
of their close friends use smokeless tobacco (6 percent statewide).

Alcohol

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

Seventy-four* percent of Spring Branch students reported consuming alcohol at least once
during their lifetimes (78 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Lifetime alcohol use was reported by 60*
percent of SBISD 8th graders, compared to 69 percent of 8th graders statewide. Eighty percent
of district 10th graders (81 percent statewide) and 85 percent of SBISD 12th graders (86 percent
statewide) said they had consumed alcohol at least once during their lifetimes (Fig. 3).

Forty-one percent of Spring Branch ISD students said they had consumed alcohol during the
past month (42 percent statewide) (Fig. 2). Current alcohol use was reported by 28* percent of
district 8th grade students, a rate somewhat lower than that reported by 8th grade students
statewide (34 percent statewide). Forty-five percent of SBISD 10th graders (45 percent
statewide) and 54 percent of district 12th graders (52 percent statewide) said they had consumed
alcohol during the past month (Fig. 4).

The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by Spring Branch students are beer (62
percent/63 percent statewide) and wine coolers (58* percent/64 percent statewide). Thirty-eight
percent of SBISD students said they drink beer on a weekly or monthly basis (40 percent
statewide). Twenty-nine* percent of district students said they drink wine coolers weekly or
monthly, a rate somewhat lower than that reported by students statewide (36 percent).

"Binge drinking" is the consumption of five or more beers, wine coolers, servings of wine, or
drinks with liquor at one time. Thirty-eight percent of Spring Branch ISD students reported
"binge drinking" beer at least once during the past year (42 percent statewide), while 18*
percent said they usually drink five or more beers at a time on average when they drink (22
percent statewide). Past-year "binge drinking" of wine coolers was reported by 36* percent of
SBISD students (43 percent statewide), while 14* percent said they usually drink five or more
wine coolers at a time on average when they drink (20 percent statewide).

Eight* percent of Spring Branch students reported attending at least one class during the past
school year while "drunk" (10 percent statewide). Class attendance while "drunk" was reported
by 6* percent of SBISD 8th graders (10 percent statewide), 9 percent of SBISD 10th graders

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(11 percent statewide), and 8 percent of district 12th graders (10 percent statewide) (Figs. 9a
and 9b).

Eighteen percent of SBISD 10th and 12th grade students said that they had driven a car after
having "a good bit to drink" at least once during the past year, the same rate reported by 10th
and 12th grade students statewide. Driving while intoxicated was reported by 10 percent of
district 10th grade students (11 percent statewide) and 27 percent of Spring Branch 12th grade
students (26 percent statewide). Driving while intoxicated four or more times during the past
year was reported by 3 percent of district 10th and 12th graders (5 percent statewide) (Fig. 11).

Students were asked about the availability of alcohol, its use among friends, and its use at
parties. Eighty-two percent of Spring Branch ISD students said beer, wine, wine coolers, or
liquor were somewhat easy or very easy to obtain (80 percent statewide). Forty percent of
district students reported most or all of their close friends drink alcohol (44 percent statewide).
Thirty-six* percent of SBISD students responded "from friends" when asked where they
obtained alcohol most of the time or always, compared to 44 percent of students statewide.
"Difficulties of any kind" with friends because of one's own drinking was reported by 11
percent of SBISD students (10 percent statewide).

Forty-one percent of Spring Branch students said alcohol was used at most or all of the parties
they attended in the past school year (44 percent statewide). Alcohol use at most or all parties
was reported by 16* percent of Spring Branch 8th graders, a rate somewhat lower than that
reported by 8th graders statewide (24 percent). Fifty-three percent of district 10th graders (52
percent statewide) and 63 percent of SBISD 12th graders (62 percent statewide) said alcohol
was used at most or all of the parties they attended in the past school year (Fig. 12). Forty-one*
percent of district students responded "at parties" when asked where they obtain alcohol most of
the time or always (47 percent statewide), while 28* percent of SBISD students said they get
alcohol "from the store" most of the time or always (23 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 SBISD students who had not been absent since September
reported having used alcohol during the past month (27 percent/29 percent statewide) than did
district students who said they had missed four or more days of school (47 percent/50 percent
statewide). Sixty-nine 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 (66 percent
statewide). By contrast, only 30 percent of district students who had not experienced
difficulties with school officials because of conduct problems had used alcohol within the past
30 days (29 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 Spring Branch
students said their parents strongly or mildly disapprove (76 percent statewide). Seven percent
of district students said they "don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age drinking

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beer (9 percent statewide), and 11 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (12
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 somewhat. Overall, Spring Branch ISD
students are using inhalants at rates somewhat similar to those reported by their counterparts
statewide.

Fifteen* percent of Spring Branch students reported using inhalants at least once during their
lifetimes (19 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Lifetime inhalant use was reported by 17* percent of
district 8th graders, compared to 24 percent of 8th graders statewide. Thirteen percent of
SBISD 10th grade students (17 percent statewide) and 16 percent of district 12th grade students
(15 percent statewide) said they had used inhalants at least once during their lifetimes (Figs. 5a
and 5b).

Three* percent of Spring Branch ISD students said they had used inhalants during the past
month (5 percent statewide) (Fig. 2). Current inhalant use was reported by 3* percent of district
8th grade students (8 percent statewide) and 4 percent of SBISD 10th grade students (4 percent
statewide). One percent of district 12th graders said they had used inhalants during the past
month (2 percent statewide) (Figs. 6a and 6b).

Two percent of SBISD students reported most or all of their close friends use inhalants (3
percent statewide), and 1* percent said they had attended at least one class during the past
school year while "high" on inhalants (3 percent statewide). Nine* percent of SBISD students
said they had used two or more different kinds of inhalant substances during their lifetimes (12
percent statewide).

Seven* percent of Spring Branch ISD students said they had inhaled correction fluid/Liquid
Paper (10 percent statewide), 6 percent reported inhaling substances in the "other inhalants"
category (8 percent statewide), 5 percent said they had inhaled liquid/spray paint (7 percent
statewide), and 5 percent said they had inhaled paint thinner (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
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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marijuana, the most frequently used illicit substance, has also increased among students
statewide over the last two years.

In the Spring Branch ISD, 24* percent of students reported use of illicit drugs at least once
during their lifetimes, compared to 30 percent of students statewide. Eighteen* percent of
SBISD students said they had used one or more illicit substances three or more times (21
percent statewide). Statewide, students who said they had used illicit drugs reported using them
an average of 1.6 times in the past 30 days and 4.7 times during their lives. Spring Branch
students reported average usage rates of 1.4 times in the past month and 4.8 times during their
lifetimes.

Twenty-three* percent of SBISD students reported using marijuana at least once in their
lifetimes (28 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). Lifetime marijuana use was reported by 14* percent
of Spring Branch 8th grade students, a rate somewhat lower than that reported by their 8th
grade peers statewide (21 percent statewide). Twenty-six percent of district 10th graders (30
percent statewide) and 31 percent of SBISD 12th graders (34 percent statewide) said they had
used marijuana at least once during their lifetimes (Figs. 5a and 5b).

Past-month marijuana use was reported by 12 percent of Spring Branch ISD students (13
percent statewide) (Fig. 2). Current marijuana use was reported by 6* percent of district 8th
graders (11 percent statewide) and 13 percent of SBISD 10th graders (14 percent statewide).
Seventeen percent of district 12th grade students said they had used marijuana during the past
month (14 percent statewide) (Figs. 6a and 6b).

Seven* percent of SBISD students reported attending at least one class in the past year while
"stoned" on marijuana (10 percent statewide) (Fig. 10). Driving under the influence of drugs at
least once during the past year was reported by 9 percent of Spring Branch ISD 10th and 12th
grade students, the same rate reported by 10th and 12th grade students statewide. Five percent
of district 10th graders (7 percent statewide) and 14 percent of SBISD 12th graders (12 percent
statewide) said they had driven a car while under the influence of drugs during the past year.

Forty-eight percent of SBISD students said marijuana was somewhat or very easy to obtain (52
percent statewide), and 14* 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).

Nineteen percent of the Spring Branch ISD students said that marijuana and/or other drugs were
used at most or all of the parties they attended during the school year (19 percent statewide).
Drug use at most or all parties was reported by 9 percent of district 8th graders (12 percent
statewide), 24 percent of Spring Branch 10th graders (23 percent statewide), and 25 percent of
SBISD 12th graders (24 percent statewide).

Fewer Spring Branch ISD students who had not been absent since September reported having
used marijuana during the past month (3 percent/7 percent statewide) than did district students
who said they had missed four or more days of school (15 percent/16 percent statewide). Six

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percent of district students who had not gotten into trouble with school officials reported using
marijuana within the past 30 days (5 percent statewide). By contrast, 26 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 (33 percent statewide).

When asked about parental attitudes toward marijuana use, Spring Branch students reported a
disapproval rate of 89 percent (88 percent statewide). Five percent of district students said they
"don't know" how their parents feel about kids their age using marijuana (7 percent statewide),
while 4 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (4 percent statewide) (Fig.
17).

Hallucinogens are the next most frequently used illicit substance among Spring Branch ISD
students (9 percent/7 percent statewide). Six percent of SBISD students reported using uppers
(8 percent statewide), 6 percent said they had used powdered cocaine (6 percent statewide), and
4 percent reported using downers (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
Spring Branch ISD, male students were somewhat more likely to have used marijuana than
were district female students. There were no significant differences by gender among SBISD
students with regard to use of tobacco, alcohol, 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. SBISD students living in other family situations were
somewhat more likely to have used hallucinogens or uppers and nearly two times more likely to
have used marijuana than were those district students living in homes with two parents. There
were no significant differences by living arrangement among Spring Branch ISD students with
regard to the use of tobacco, alcohol, inhalants, or other illegal drugs.

When asked where they would go for help with a drug or alcohol problem, the largest
percentage of Spring Branch students said they would seek help from their friends (76 percent),
the same rate reported by students statewide. Fifty-four percent of SBISD students said they
would seek help from an adult friend or relative (57 percent statewide), and 52 percent said they
would turn to their parents (52 percent statewide). District students are least likely to seek help
from another adult in school, such as a nurse or teacher (29 percent/32 percent statewide) (Fig.
17). Since school began in the Fall, 5 percent of Spring Branch students reported seeking help
for any problems connected with alcohol or drug use from someone other than family or friends
(6 percent statewide).

Eighty-five* percent of Spring Branch ISD students said they had gotten information about
drugs and alcohol from a school source since classes began in the Fall, a rate somewhat higher
than that reported by students statewide (79 percent). "An assembly program" was reported by

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68* percent of district students as a source for this information, compared to 54 percent of their
counterparts statewide. Forty-eight percent of SBISD students reported getting information
about drugs and alcohol from a "health class" (45 percent statewide), while 46 percent said "an
invited school guest" was a source for information about drugs and alcohol (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 Spring Branch students believe that crack use is
"very dangerous" (91 percent statewide), and 91 percent believe that powdered cocaine use is
"very dangerous" (90 percent statewide). Seventy percent of SBISD students believe that
inhalant use is "very dangerous," a rate somewhat lower than that reported by students statewide
(77 percent). Sixty-four percent of district students believe that marijuana use is "very
dangerous" (66 percent statewide). By contrast, the perceived danger of alcohol and tobacco
use is lower. Only 44 percent of SBISD students feel that it is "very dangerous" to use alcohol
(45 percent statewide), while 36 percent believe that tobacco use is "very dangerous" (38
percent statewide) (Fig. 13).