TEXAS SCHOOL SURVEY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE

LUFKIN 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 grades 7 through 12 in the Lufkin Independent School District (LISD). A total of 1866
students completed the questionnaire, which asked about students' experiences with alcohol and
drugs. Of that number, 117 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 1749.1

Students' responses to the questionnaire indicate that:

•Fifty-two percent of Lufkin 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).

•Eight percent of Lufkin ISD students said they smoke cigarettes on a daily basis, while 2
percent reported using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis.

•Sixty-nine* percent of Lufkin ISD students said they had used alcohol at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 32* percent reported using alcohol during the
past month (Fig. 2).2

•Thirteen percent of Lufkin ISD 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" (Fig. 11).

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

•Twenty-one* percent of Lufkin ISD students reported using marijuana at least once
during their lifetimes (Fig. 1), and 9* percent said they had used marijuana during
the past month (Fig. 2).

•Lufkin ISD students are most likely to turn to friends for help with a drug or alcohol
problem (76 percent) and least likely to consult a counselor or program in school
(29* percent) (Fig. 17).

Tobacco

Over the last two years, the general use of tobacco (including cigarettes and smokeless products)
among students statewide has increased slightly.3 Overall, the general use of tobacco products
among Lufkin ISD students is somewhat similar to that reported by their counterparts statewide.

Fifty-two percent of Lufkin students reported general tobacco use at least once during their
lifetimes (55 percent statewide) (Fig. 1). The rates of lifetime general tobacco use ranged from
43 percent among district 7th graders (41 percent statewide) to 61 percent among LISD 11th
graders (61 percent statewide).

Twenty-five percent of Lufkin ISD students said they had used a tobacco product during the past
month (26 percent statewide) (Fig. 2). Past-month general tobacco use was lowest among LISD
7th grade students (17 percent/17 percent statewide). The highest rate of past-month use of a
tobacco product was reported by district 11th graders (38 percent), a rate somewhat higher than
that reported by 11th graders statewide (31 percent).

Fifty* percent of Lufkin students reported smoking cigarettes at least once during their lifetimes
(53 percent statewide), and 24 percent said they had smoked cigarettes during the past month
(25 percent statewide). Smoking cigarettes on a daily basis was reported by 8 percent of district
students (8 percent statewide). Daily cigarette use was highest among Lufkin ISD 11th graders
(16 percent/12 percent statewide). Twenty percent of LISD students said most or all of their
close friends smoke cigarettes (21 percent statewide).

Lifetime use of smokeless tobacco products was reported by 19 percent of LISD students (16
percent statewide), while 7 percent said they had used a smokeless tobacco product during the
past month (5 percent statewide). Using a smokeless tobacco product on a daily basis was
reported by 2 percent of district students (1 percent statewide), and 6 percent said most or all of
their close friends use smokeless tobacco (5 percent statewide).

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 the Spring of 1996.

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Alcohol

Alcohol is the most widely used substance among students statewide and in the Lufkin ISD.
Alcohol use among secondary students statewide has decreased slightly from that reported two
years ago. Overall, Lufkin ISD students are drinking alcohol at rates somewhat lower than those
reported by their peers statewide.

Sixty-nine* percent of Lufkin students reported consuming alcohol at least once during their
lifetimes, compared to 74 percent of students statewide (Fig. 1). The rates of lifetime alcohol use
were lower than their counterparts statewide among LISD 8th graders (58* percent/68 percent
statewide) and Lufkin 9th graders (69* percent/76 percent statewide). Eighty percent of district
11th grade students (82 percent statewide) and 80 percent of LISD 12th grade students (85
percent statewide) reported lifetime alcohol use (Fig. 3).

Thirty-two* percent of Lufkin ISD students said they had consumed alcohol during the past
month, compared to 38 percent of students statewide (Fig. 2). Past-month alcohol use was
reported by 24* percent of LISD 8th graders (32 percent statewide) and 32* percent of Lufkin
10th graders (42 percent statewide), rates lower than those reported by 8th and 10th graders
statewide. Forty-three percent of district 12th grade students reported drinking alcohol during
the past month, a rate somewhat lower than that reported by 12th grade students statewide (51
percent) (Fig. 4).

The alcoholic beverages most often consumed by Lufkin students are wine coolers (55
percent/58 percent statewide) and beer (52* percent/56 percent statewide). Twenty-eight*
percent of LISD students said they drink beer on a weekly or monthly basis (33 percent
statewide), and 25* percent said they drink wine coolers weekly or monthly (31 percent
statewide), rates somewhat lower than those reported by students statewide.

"Binge drinking" is the consumption of five or more beers, wine coolers, servings of wine, or
drinks with liquor at one time. Lufkin ISD students are "binge drinking" wine coolers and beer at
rates somewhat lower than those reported by their peers statewide. Lifetime "binge drinking" of
wine coolers was reported by 35* percent of LISD students (40 percent statewide), while 15*
percent said they usually drink five or more wine coolers at a time on average when they drink
(18 percent statewide). Thirty-two* percent of Lufkin ISD students reported "binge drinking"
beer at least once during their lifetimes (37 percent statewide), while 16* percent said they
usually drink five or more beers at a time on average when they drink (19 percent statewide).

Six* percent of Lufkin students reported attending at least one class during the past school year
while "drunk" (9 percent statewide). Attending class while intoxicated was reported by 4*
percent of LISD 12th graders (11 percent statewide) and 5* percent of district 10th graders (10
percent statewide), rates lower than those reported by 12th and 10th graders statewide (Figs. 9a
and 9b).

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Thirteen 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 (15 percent statewide). Driving
while intoxicated was reported by 18* percent of Lufkin 12th graders, a rate lower than that
reported by 12th graders statewide (26 percent). Driving while intoxicated four or more times
during the past year was reported by 3 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-six percent of Lufkin ISD students said beer, wine, wine coolers, or liquor were
somewhat easy or very easy to obtain (75 percent statewide). Thirty-two* percent of district
students reported most or all of their close friends drink alcohol (37 percent statewide), and 35*
percent responded "from friends" when asked where they obtained alcohol most of the time or
always (39 percent statewide), rates somewhat lower than those reported by their counterparts
statewide. "Difficulties of any kind" with friends because of one's own drinking was reported by
7 percent of LISD students (9 percent statewide).

Twenty-nine* percent of Lufkin students said alcohol was used at most or all of the parties they
attended in the past school year, compared to 37 percent of students statewide. Alcohol use at
most or all parties was reported by 29* percent of LISD 9th graders (37 percent statewide), 37*
percent of district 10th graders (48 percent statewide), and 46* percent of Lufkin 12th graders
(61 percent statewide), rates lower than those reported by their peers statewide (Figs. 13a and
13b). Thirty-four* percent of district students responded "at parties" when asked where they
obtain alcohol most of the time or always (43 percent statewide), while 13* percent of LISD
students said they get alcohol "from the store" most of the time or always (17 percent statewide),
rates somewhat lower than those reported by students 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 (21 percent/25 percent statewide) than did
district students who said they had missed four or more days of school (36* percent/44 percent
statewide). Fifty-six* percent of Lufkin ISD students who had experienced difficulties with
school officials on four or more days reported using alcohol during the past 30 days (62 percent
statewide). By contrast, only 21 percent of district students who had not experienced difficulties
with school officials because of conduct problems had used alcohol within the past 30 days (25
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, 80* percent of Lufkin 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 beer (9
percent statewide), and 9 percent said their parents neither approve nor disapprove (10 percent
statewide) (Fig. 15).

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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 has stayed about the same. Overall, Lufkin ISD
students are using inhalants at rates somewhat lower than those reported by their counterparts
statewide.

Fourteen* percent of Lufkin students reported using inhalants at least once during their lifetimes,
compared to 20 percent of students statewide (Fig. 1). Lifetime inhalant use was lowest among
district 11th grade students (9* percent), nearly half the rate reported by 11th grade students
statewide (16 percent). Fourteen* percent of LISD 8th graders (24 percent statewide) and 15*
percent of Lufkin 7th graders (22 percent statewide) reported lifetime inhalant use, rates lower
than those reported by 8th and 7th graders statewide (Figs. 5a and 5b).

Three* percent of Lufkin ISD students said they had used inhalants during the past month (5
percent statewide) (Fig. 2). One* percent of LISD students reported most or all of their close
friends use inhalants (3 percent statewide), 2* percent said they had attended at least one class
during the past school year while "high" on inhalants (4 percent statewide), and 8* percent said
they had used two or more different kinds of inhalant substances during their lifetimes (12
percent statewide); rates somewhat lower than those reported by their peers statewide.

The inhalant substance most frequently used by Lufkin students was correction fluid/Liquid
Paper (8 percent/9 percent statewide). Five percent of district students said they had inhaled glue
(5 percent statewide), 5* percent said they had inhaled liquid/spray paint (7 percent statewide),
5* percent reported inhaling substances in the "other inhalants" category (8 percent statewide), 4
percent reported inhaling gasoline (5 percent statewide), and 4* percent said they had inhaled
paint thinner (5 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. 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 Lufkin ISD, 24* percent of students reported use of illicit drugs at least once during their
lifetimes (34 percent statewide), while 17* percent of LISD students said they had used one or
more illicit substances three or more times (25 percent statewide), rates lower than those

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.

5
reported by their counterparts statewide. Statewide, students who said they had used illicit drugs
reported using them an average of 2.2 times in the past 30 days and 6.4 times during their lives.
Lufkin students reported average usage rates of 1.1 times in the past month and 3.6 times during
their lifetimes.

Twenty-one* percent of LISD students reported using marijuana at least once in their lifetimes, a
rate lower than that reported by students statewide (31 percent) (Fig. 1). Lifetime marijuana use
was lowest among Lufkin 7th graders (12 percent/17 percent statewide) and highest among
district 11th graders (32 percent/39 percent statewide) (Figs. 5a and 5b).

Past-month marijuana use was reported by 9* percent of Lufkin ISD students, compared to 16
percent of students statewide (Fig. 2). Past-month marijuana use was reported by 5* percent of
district 7th graders (9 percent statewide), 11* percent of Lufkin 9th graders (19 percent
statewide), and 10* percent of LISD 12th graders (19 percent statewide); rates nearly half those
reported by their peers statewide (Figs. 6a and 6b).

Seven* percent of LISD students reported attending at least one class in the past year while
"stoned" on marijuana, compared to 13 percent of students statewide. Attending class while
stoned was reported by 4* percent of Lufkin 8th graders (11 percent statewide) and 7* percent
of district 10th graders (14 percent statewide), rates lower than those reported by 8th and 10th
graders statewide (Figs. 10a and 10b). Driving under the influence of drugs at least once during
the past year was reported by 9 percent of Lufkin ISD 9th through 12th grade students (12
percent statewide). Driving under the influence of drugs was reported by 13 percent of LISD
11th graders (14 percent statewide).

Forty-eight* percent of LISD students said marijuana was somewhat or very easy to obtain (53
percent statewide), and 11* percent reported most or all of their close friends use marijuana (21
percent statewide), rates somewhat lower than those reported by 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 (6 percent statewide).

Fourteen* percent of the Lufkin ISD students said that marijuana and/or other drugs were used
at most or all of the parties they attended during the school year, compared to 23 percent of
students statewide. The use of marijuana and/or other drugs at most or all parties was reported
by 9* percent of district 8th graders (15 percent statewide), 13* percent of Lufkin 10th graders
(29 percent statewide), and 19* percent of LISD 12th graders (33 percent statewide); rates
lower than those reported by their counterparts statewide.

Fewer Lufkin ISD students who had not been absent since the Fall reported having used
marijuana during the past month (7 percent/9 percent statewide) than did district students who
said they had missed four or more days of school (11* percent/20 percent statewide). Three
percent of LISD students who had not gotten into trouble with school officials reported using
marijuana within the past 30 days (7 percent statewide). By contrast, 28 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 (38 percent statewide).

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When asked about parental attitudes toward marijuana use, Lufkin students reported a
disapproval rate of 90* percent, a rate somewhat higher than that reported by students statewide
(85 percent). Six* percent of district students said they "don't know" how their parents feel
about kids their age using marijuana (8 percent statewide), while 3 percent said their parents
neither approve nor disapprove (4 percent statewide) (Fig. 15).

Other illicit substances are used by a small number of Lufkin ISD students. Six* percent of LISD
students reported using uppers (8 percent statewide), 4* percent said they had used
hallucinogens (8 percent statewide), 4* percent reported using downers (6 percent statewide), 4*
percent reported using ecstasy (5 percent statewide), 2* percent said they had used powdered
cocaine (7 percent statewide), 2 percent said they had used steroids (2 percent statewide), and 1*
percent reported using crack (3 percent statewide) at least once during their lifetimes (Fig. 1).

CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH DRUG USE

Statewide, female students were somewhat less likely to have used drugs than were male
students. In the Lufkin ISD, male students were somewhat more likely to have smoked
marijuana or used an upper than were district female students. There were no other significant
differences by gender among LISD students with regard to the use of tobacco products, alcohol,
inhalants, 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 have smoked marijuana than were those district students living in homes
with two parents. There were no other significant differences by living arrangement among
Lufkin ISD students with regard to the use of tobacco products, alcohol, inhalants, or other
illegal drugs.

When asked where they would go for help with a drug or alcohol problem, the largest percentage
of Lufkin students said they would seek help from their friends (76 percent/74 percent
statewide). Sixty-three* percent of LISD students said they would seek help from an adult friend
or relative (58 percent statewide), and 59* percent said they would turn to their parents (54
percent statewide), rates somewhat higher than those reported by students statewide. District
students are least likely to seek help for a drug or alcohol problem from a counselor or program
in school (29* percent), a rate somewhat lower than that reported by students statewide (35
percent) (Fig. 17). Since school began in the Fall, 5 percent of Lufkin students reported seeking
help for any problems connected with alcohol or drug use from someone other than family or
friends (7 percent statewide).

Sixty-six* percent of Lufkin ISD students said they had gotten information about drugs and
alcohol from a school source since classes began in the Fall, compared to 75 percent of students
statewide. Thirty-nine* percent of LISD students reported getting information about drugs and
alcohol from a "health class" (46 percent statewide). "An assembly program" was reported by

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33* percent of district students as a source for information about drugs and alcohol (44 percent
statewide), while 29* percent said "an invited school guest" was a source for this information (38
percent statewide), rates lower than those reported by their peers statewide.

The influence of drug education programs may be reflected in students' attitudes toward the use
of specific substances. Ninety-two* percent of Lufkin students believe that crack use is "very
dangerous" (88 percent statewide), and 92* percent believe that powdered cocaine use is "very
dangerous" (87 percent statewide), rates somewhat higher than those reported by students
statewide. Seventy-eight percent of LISD students believe that inhalant use is "very dangerous"
(76 percent statewide). Seventy-one* percent of district students believe that marijuana use is
"very dangerous," a rate higher than that reported by students statewide (60 percent). By
contrast, the perceived danger of alcohol and tobacco use is lower. Only 48* percent of LISD
students feel that it is "very dangerous" to use alcohol (44 percent statewide), while 38 percent
believe that tobacco use is "very dangerous" (39 percent statewide) (Fig. 13).