DRUG SURVEY CONCERNS TISD ADMINISTRATORS

According to a survey of 400 Terrell ISD middle and high school students,
about a quarter of students may have tried downers such as methamphetamine
and more than 40 percent have tried marijuana.

In grades four through six, 10 percent of responders had tried tobacco; the
state average is 9 percent. Thirty-two percent of Terrell students had
tried alcohol; the state average is 27 percent.

Statewide, 11 percent responders in grades four through six had tried
inhalants; only 6 percent of Terrell students had and for marijuana the
state rate is 3 percent and no Terrell students said they had used the drug.

"We felt like the numbers from the elementary school seemed within reason,"
Terrell ISD assistant superintendent Bill Campbell said. "They reflect some
experimentation, but not the kind of common wide-spread use we would be
very concerned about. At the level they are receiving some drug education
in health and physical education and very targeted education through the
D.A.R.E. program."

In grades seven through 12, 48 percent of Terrell students had tried
tobacco; the state average is 39 percent.

When asked about alcohol, 74 percent of Terrell responders said they tried
it; statewide the average was 68 percent.

For inhalants, only 9 percent of Terrell students said they had tried it
compared with the state's 17 percent. For marijuana, 43 percent of Terrell
students said they had tried the drugs; state average is 30 percent. Only 6
percent of Terrell secondary students claimed to have tried cocaine; state
average is 7 percent.

Across the state an average of 5 percent of students had tried
hallucinogens, in Terrell, 2 percent have tried hallucinogens. For uppers,
2 percent of Terrell responders said they tried them; state average is 6
percent.

In Terrell, 26 percent of survey responders claims to have tried downers.
The state average is 6 percent. Only 1 percent of Terrell students had
tried steroids, the state average is 2 percent.

Four percent of Terrell students had tried the drug ecstasy; state average
is 6 percent.

"That 26 percent trying downers is a number that really concerns us, I
would say we probably have a real problem there," Campbell said. "For the
coming school year we are trying to do more education through our nurses
and two of our officers will be dedicated to education efforts."