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Students who had used inhalants had many of the characteristics associated with dropouts: poor academic achievement, low motivation, and poor adjustment to school. (suggested by increased truancy), and poor adjustment to school (indi- cated by increased discipline problems). • In 1994, 20 percent of seventh graders and 24 percent of eighth graders reported lifetime inhalant use, while 14-15 percent of the juniors and seniors reported lifetime inhalant use. • Students who made Cs or below were about 1.7 times more likely to have used inhalants than those who made As and Bs. Illicit Drugs • Use of illicit drugs among Texas secondary students increased significantly from 1992 to 1994, reversing the downward trend seen since 1988. In 1994, the lifetime prevalence of most of the illicit drugs increased, except for crack and Ecstasy. • 28 percent of all secondary students in 1994 had used some type of illicit substance during their lifetime, increasing from 22 percent in 1992, but still below the 1988 rate of 39 percent. Marijuana • In 1994, marijuana was the most commonly used illicit drug and the third most prevalent substance other than alcohol and tobacco. • The increase in marijuana use between 1992 and 1994 was the greatest of the illicit drugs measured. • 25 percent of all secondary students in 1994 had used marijuana at least once, up from 20 percent in 1992, but below the peak of 32 percent in 1988. Uppers • Uppers were the second most frequently used illicit drug among Texas secondary students, but upper use has remained about the same since 1992. Overall lifetime prevalence is about 7 percent and current prevalence is about 2 percent, with older students reporting higher levels of lifetime use. Downers • Use of downers decreased more than any other substance since the 1988 survey. Only 5 percent of all secondary students in 1994 and 1992 reported lifetime use of downers. From 1990-1994 current use remained around 1 percent. Cocaine/Crack • 5 percent of all secondary students reported lifetime use of pow- dered cocaine and 2 percent reported past-month use.
demographic variations that may be present among subpopulations due to factors such as differential dropout rates (e.g., there are fewer C, D, and F students than A and B students in upper grades because students with poor academic performance drop out at higher rates), and produces composite estimates that are directly comparable among subpopulations. Endnotes 1 Since the school survey only samples in-school students, it is likely that the study underestimates the prevalence of substance use in the adolescent popula- tion because school dropouts consistently have shown higher rates of substance use than those staying in school. See G. Globetti, “Teenage Drinking,” in Alcoholism: Development, Consequences, and Interventions, 2nd ed., N. J. Estes and M. E. Heinemann eds. (St. Louis, Mo.: The C. V. Mosby Co., 1982); W. B. Hansen, L. M. Collins, C. K. Malotte, C. A. Johnson, and J. E. Fielding, “Attrition in Prevention Research,” Journal of Behavioral Medicine 8:3 (1985): 261-275; L. Y. Liu, Substance Use Among Youths at High Risk of Dropping Out: Grades 7-12 in Texas, 1992 (Austin, Tx.: Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, August 1994). 2 J. A. Dyer, R. Prislin, L. Ringer, and C. D. Hanks, Methodology Report for the 1994 Texas School Survey of Drug and Alcohol Use (College Station, Tx.: Public Policy Research Institute, Texas A& M University, 1994).
Chapter 2. Comparisons with National and Other Texas Data Introduction This section compares the Texas School Survey estimates on substance use to national prevalence data collected through the Moni- toring the Future Study, conducted by the Institute for Social Re- search at the University of Michigan with support from the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA).1 Substance use trends in Texas are consistent with national trends, most prominently in the increase in illicit drug use among secondary students since 1992, especially marijuana use (see Figures 2.1 and 2.2). This trend toward increased use and abuse of marijuana is corroborated by other substance-related indicators in arrests for marijuana sale and posses- sion and treatment admissions for a primary problem of marijuana are increasing. Based on the national survey, the Office of National Drug Con- trol Policy issued a report stressing the significance of the trend of increased illicit drug use after a number of years of declining use.2 There is concern that prevention efforts must be critically evaluated for effectiveness and ensure that new generations are targeted. There is also concern regarding marjiuana as a gateway substance—that its increased use will lead to an increase in other illicit drug use. Comparisons to the National Survey The Monitoring the Future surveys collected data on prevalence of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use from large representative samples of students from across the nation. Questions regarding attitudes, beliefs, and the social milieu (such as availability and peers’ use) were included. The Monitoring the Future Study began its annual survey of high school seniors in 1975. The study was expanded in 1991 to obtain additional data on eighth and tenth graders. The Substance use trends in Texas are similar to national trends, most prominently in the increase in illicit drug use among secondary students since 1992, especially marijuana use.
Figure 2.3. Arrests of Persons 17 Years of Age and Under in Texas for Drug Offenses: 1984-1993 9,000 8,000 7,000 6,000 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 1,000 0 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 Marijuana Arrests All Drug Arrests use among adolescents. The Uniform Crime Report (UCR) from the Texas Department of Public Safety showed that arrests of youths aged 17 and under for drug sales and possession are increasing (Figure 2.3). Total drug arrests for juveniles aged 17 and under in 1993 surpassed the previous high set in 1985. In the UCR, drug violations are re- ported for four categories: opium or cocaine and their derivatives (morphine, heroin, and codeine); marijuana; synthetic narcotics which can cause drug addiction (Demerol, methadone); and other dangerous non-narcotic drugs (barbiturates, Benzedrine). Paralleling the Texas Secondary School Survey results, the crease in juvenile drug arrests is most pronounced for marijuana offenses. The proportion of marijuana arrests to total drug offenses peaked in 1987 at 78 percent and dropped to a low of 39 percent in 1991, rising again to 44 percent for 1992, 56 percent in 1993, and 61 percent for the first half of 1994. Treatment Data At the same time juvenile arrests for marijuana were rising, juvenile admissions to publicly-funded substance abuse treatment programs showed an increase in marijuana abuse, as illustrated in Figure 2.4. The Client Oriented Data Acquisition Process (CODAP) collects information on all clients entering programs funded by TCADA. According to CODAP, 40 percent of juvenile admissions in Paralleling the Texas School Survey results, the increase in juvenile drug arrests in 1993 and 1994 was most pronounced for marijuana offenses. ■ ■ ■
Figure 2.4. Percentage of All Juvenile Drug Arrests that Involved Marijuana and Percentage of All Juvenile Treatment Admissions for a Primary Problem of Marijuana 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 Marijuana Arrests Marijuana Admissions 1988 were for a primary problem of marijuana. This dropped to a low of 20 percent in 1991, but climbed to 51 percent in 1994. Endnotes 1 National Institute on Drug Abuse, “Monitoring the Future Study: Trends in Prevalence of Various Drugs for 8th-Graders, 10th-Graders, and High School Seniors,” NIDA Capsules (Rockville, Md.: National Institute on Drug Abuse, 1994). 2 R. Clayton, et al., Increase in Use of Selected Drugs: Monitoring the Future Study of 8th-, 10th-, and 12th-Graders (Washington, D.C.: Office of National Drug Control Policy, 1994). 3 A bias may exist when comparing the prevalence rates of inhalants between 1994 and the previous survey years in Texas due to a modification of the specific-type- inhalant question in the 1994 Texas School Survey instrument. As discussed in Chapter 1, the phrase “to get high” was added to the responses in question 16 of the survey instrument. This should be kept in mind later in the study whenever analyzing the trends and correlates of inhalant use among Texas secondary students from 1988 to 1994.
About 28 percent of all secondary students in 1994 had used some type of illicit substance at least once, an increase from 22 percent in 1992. strongly disapproved of kids drinking beer. The percentage of paren- tal disapproval toward marijuana use was about the same in 1988 (82 percent), but was higher between 1990 and 1992 (86-87 percent). Almost 3 percent of all students in 1994 reported getting into trouble with the police because of drug use, up from 1.4 percent in 1992 as in 1990 and above the 1.7 percent reported in 1988. Like- wise, the frequency of students’ drug-related problems with their friends decreased from 5.3 percent in 1988 to 3.6 percent in 1992, but increased to 5 percent in 1994. Prevalence and Frequency of Use Use of illicit drugs among Texas secondary students increased significantly from 1992 to 1994, reversing the downward trend seen since 1988 (Figure 3.12). However, prevalence rates were still below the 1988 peak. About 28 percent of all secondary students in 1994 had used some type of illicit substance during their lifetime, increas- ing from 22 percent in 1992, but still below the 1988 rate of 39 percent. Past-month use of any illicit drug increased from 8 percent in 1992 to 14 percent in 1994 after declining from the peak of 17 percent in 1988. The use of illicit substances was highest among seniors: 36 percent had ever used an illicit drug, and 16 percent had used in the 30 days prior to the survey. In 1988, 54 percent of seniors Figure 3.12. Trends in Lifetime, Annual, and Past-Month Use of Any Illicit Drug* Among Texas Secondary Students: 1988, 1990, 1992, and 1994 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% Lifetime Annual Past Month 10% 5% 0% 1988 1990 1992 1994 * Use of “any illicit drug” includes use of marijuana, cocaine, crack, hallucinogens, uppers, downers, and/or Ecstasy.
Chapter 4. Demographic Variables and Substance Use Introduction This section discusses the relationship of substance use to demo- graphic characteristics including sex, race/ethnicity, academic perfor- mance, family structure, socioeconomic status, and length of residence in the school district. It should be noted that when discussing preva- lence among the three major racial/ethnic groups in the state, in terms of actual numbers of users, there are far more White students who use substances than Hispanic and African American students. These are notable findings from the 1994 survey: • Male students were more likely to use substances than females, with the exception of uppers. • Hispanic students reported the highest rates of lifetime and current use of an illicit drug. • White students had the highest rates of lifetime and current use for hallucinogens, uppers, downers, and Ecstasy. • Students who earned grades of Cs or lower reported about three times as much lifetime and current prevalence of cocaine and crack than those who made grades of As and Bs. • Students who lived with both of their parents were less likely to use substances than those who lived in other family structures. • Students who had jobs were more likely to use tobacco, alco- hol, and drugs. • Students with college-educated parents were less likely to use substances. Much of the increase in illicit drug use between 1992 and 1994 discussed previously was attributable to more use by males, African- American students, students who made As and Bs, and students who were longtime residents of a school district. Much of the increase in illicit drug use between 1992 and 1994 was attributable to more use by males, African-American students, students who made grades of As and Bs, and students who were longtime residents of a school district.
Figure 5.8. Past-Month Use of Selected Substances by Texas Secondary Students, by Extracurricular Activity: 1994 50% 45% 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% Tobacco Alcohol Marijuana Any Illicit Drug 15% 10% 5% 0% Students involved in vocational education, distributive education, and work-study programs had the highest rates of substance use among the students who participated in extracurricular activities. While the use of substances was lower among secondary students who participated in extracurricular activities than those who did not participate in such activities, there were important differences in levels of use among the different activity groups (see Figure 5.8 and Appendix F). VOE/DE/Work Study Students involved in vocational education, distributive education, and work study programs had the highest rates of substance use, with 33 percent reporting that they had used an illicit drug in their lifetime, compared to 27 percent for non-VOE/DE/work study students. Current use for both groups was 14 percent (Figure 5.9). The VOE/DE/work study students also reported the highest current use of alcohol, mari- juana, and tobacco of the students who participated in extracurricular activities. (Figure 5.8). While VOE/DE/work study students have the highest current use of cigarettes (25 percent), their current use of smokeless tobacco (7 percent) was the same as for athletes. For alcohol, (Figure 5.10) these students preferred beer (34 percent), wine coolers (30 percent),
KanUel anU K. Yamaguchi, "From I3eer LO Crack: DeveloprnenLal PaLlerns of Druglnvolvemem," Anm1can)ournalofPubHcl!ealth83:6 Qune 1993): 851 855: M. R. 'lorabi, W. J Bailey, ami M. Maju jablJari, "Cigarette Smoking as a Predictor of Alcohol and Other Drug Use b:y Children and Adolescents: Evidence of the 'Gateway Drug Effect'," ./oumal o!School Health G3:7 (Sept. 1993): 302-306.
Table B.6. Prevalence and Recency of Use, African-American Students, Continued Ever Used Past Month School Year Not Past Never Used Uppers - All African 1.4% * * 0.6% 98.6% * Less than 0.5%
Table B.7. Prevalence and Recency of Use, Hispanic Students, Continued Ever Used Past Month School Year Not Past Never Used Uppers - All Hispanics 6.8% 2.0% 2.4% 2.4% 93.2% * Less than 0.5%
Table E. 4. Responses of Texas Secondary Students to the Question, “If You Wanted Some, How Difficult Would It Be for You to Get. . .?”: 1994 If you wanted some, how difficult would it be to get. . . Tobacco (cigarettes, smokeless tobacco)? Never Alcohol (beer, wine coolers, wine, hard liquor)? Never Heard O f Impossible Very Difficult Somewhat Difficult Somewhat Easy Very Easy
Table E. 4. Responses of Students, “If You Wanted Some, How Difficult Would It Be for You to Get. . .?” Continued If you wanted some, how difficult would it be to get. . . Cocaine? Never Very Somewhat Very Crack? Never Very Somewhat Somewhat Very Hallucinogens? Never Very Somewhat Very