Wednesday, September 25, 1996

Survey Shows Students Increasing Use of Illegal Drugs

By JUAN B. ELIZONDO Jr.
Associated Press

AUSTIN - A growing number of Texas' junior high and high school students say they have used illegal drugs, and fewer believe their parents are very concerned about the use of marijuana, according to a new survey.

The Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse surveyed 106,924 students from 70 school districts earlier this year. The commission released preliminary results of the survey Tuesday.
According to the new report:

- 34 percent of 7th-12th graders said they had used illegal drugs. That was up 22 percent from a 1992 survey.

- 18 percent of the students said they used some illegal drug in the month before the survey.
- Among high school seniors, 43 percent said they had used some illegal drug and 21 percent said they used an illegal drug in the month before the survey.

Dr. Richard Spence, a deputy director for TCADA, said 1992 was a turning point for drug use among Texas students.

"Things were going in the right direction until 1992," Spence said. "In 1994, there was an uptick in the use of marijuana and tobacco. Sometimes that can be a momentary change, but 1996 confirms that was an upward trend."

Spence said the belief among students that fewer parents are concerned about marijuana use and the greater availability of drugs have added to the problem.

"Parents obviously have a role in the behavior of their children," he said. "It's important that children know their attitudes toward drug abuse."

The greatest increase in drugs used was in marijuana, according to the report. It showed:

- 31 percent of all secondary students used marijuana at some point. That was up 20 percent from 1992.

- 16 percent smoked marijuana in the month before the survey.

- 80 percent of the students said their parents strongly disapprove of marijuana use. That was down from 86 percent in 1992.

- 60 percent of the students believe marijuana use is very dangerous. That was down from 76 percent in 1992.

The survey also questions students about their use of tobacco and alcohol. The results showed:

- 73 percent had used alcohol. That was down from 76 percent in 1992.

- 37 percent had used alcohol in the last month and 9 percent attended class while intoxicated.

- 55 percent had used tobacco, 26 percent had used it in the previous month.