Students who made Cs or below were about 1.7 times more • Students who had likely to have used inhalants than those who made As and Bs. used inhalants had many of the Illicit Drugs characteristics Use of illicit drugs among Texas secondary students • associated with increased significantly from 1992 to 1994, reversing the dropouts: poor downward trend seen since 1988. In 1994, the lifetime academic prevalence of most of the illicit drugs increased, except for achievement, low crack and Ecstasy. motivation, and 28 percent of all secondary students in 1994 had used some type • poor adjustment to of illicit substance during their lifetime, increasing from 22 school. percent in 1992, but still below the 1988 rate of 39 percent. (suggested by increased Marijuana truancy), and In 1994, marijuana was the most commonly used illicit drug • poor and the third most prevalent substance other than alcohol and adjustment to tobacco. school (indi- The increase in marijuana use between 1992 and 1994 was • cated by the greatest of the illicit drugs measured. increased 25 percent of all secondary students in 1994 had used marijuana • discipline at least once, up from 20 percent in 1992, but below the peak of problems). 32 percent in 1988. In 1994, • Uppers 20 percent of seventh Uppers were the second most frequently used illicit drug • graders among Texas secondary students, but upper use has remained and 24 about the same since 1992. Overall lifetime prevalence is percent of about 7 percent and current prevalence is about 2 percent, eighth with older students reporting higher levels of lifetime use. graders Downers reported Use of downers decreased more than any other substance since lifetime • the inhalant 1988 survey. Only 5 percent of all secondary students in 1994 use, while and 14-15 1992 reported lifetime use of downers. From 1990-1994 percent of current use remained around 1 percent. the juniors and Cocaine/Crack seniors 5 percent of all secondary students reported lifetime use of • reported pow- dered cocaine and 2 percent reported past-month use. lifetime inhalant use.
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.
94State712.docx