Dante was a seventeen year old high school junior who was exhibiting several alcohol-related problems at school. Consequently, the principal told him that he had to see Miss Johnson, the school counselor, before he would be allowed to return to class.
Later that afternoon when Dante went home after school, he had to clarify his school expulsion to his parents. His Mom and Dad were “relatively traditional” and explained to Dante that getting expelled from school was not a viable educational option. They explained to Dante that failing to graduate from high school would probably be like a lead weight around his ankles that could conceivably mar his educational achievement for the remainder of his adult life. What is more, Dante’s Mother and Father were quite disturbed that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his classmates in the second.
His Mother and Father explained to Dante that even though he may be young, he has to realize fairly rapidly that drinking is the path to pain, ill health, financial problems, and failure.
It was clear that his Mom and Dad were absolutely in accord with Dante’s principal and informed Dante that he had better make up his mind to see Miss Johnson, the school psychologist. After his talk with his Mom and Dad, Dante eventually agreed to see Miss Johnson the next school day. So Dante phoned the school and made an appointment to see Miss Johnson the next day during his first period class.
The Psychologist Asks Dante if He Knows Why His Recent Alcohol-Related Behavior Made the School Administrators Uneasy
When Dante got to his scheduled appointment with Miss Johnson, she promptly went over all of the alcohol-related difficulties Dante had gotten into and asked him if he knew why his recent alcohol-related actions made the school administrators uneasy.
Quite truthfully, Dante was not sure why the principal suggested that he see a school therapist. As he stated to Miss Johnson, why should he see a professional counselor about his drinking situation? In view of the fact that just about all of his pals drink the same amount that he does, basically, drinking shouldn’t be such a big thing. Stated more precisely, if just about everybody is drinking, why is this such a major problem?
Miss Johnson asked Dante when he started to drink. He said that some of his older classmates introduced him to drinking wine coolers when he was twelve or thirteen years old and between the sixth and seventh grades.
Miss Johnson told Dante that while his classmates may indeed drink as much as he does and that they may be a bad influence on him, the facts are that he is the one who is getting expelled from school due to alcohol-related fighting, delinquency, and absenteeism, not his classmates. Furthermore, Miss Johnson also underscored the fact that Dante, and not his peers, is the one who is failing and who is missing at least two days of school every week due to his alcohol related problems. Lastly, Miss Johnson emphasized the fact that because of his drinking situation, Dante is getting into a dangerous cycle of excessive drinking that can in due course destroy his dreams, hopes, and aspirations.
In a word, Dante’s involvement with youth alcohol abuse was starting to foil his ability to act like an accountable young man. As conveyed by Miss Johnson, “Just because most of your buddies drink alcohol does not mean that it is the correct behavior for you.”
Dante Learns That At the End of the Day He Must Be Accountable For Himself In Order to Steer Clear of Destructive, Dangerous, Damaging, and Unhealthy Effects In the Future
Miss Johnson told Dante that one’s pals can indeed influence a person in an unhealthy way, but that the person herself or himself has to in time be accountable for herself or himself in order to keep away from damaging, destructive, unhealthy, and dangerous effects down the road.
Luckily, Miss Johnson was well prepared for her conference with Dante. She showed him reports and research studies she had underlined that outlined diverse drinking statistics and facts that targeted most people in general. Then she showed Dante quite a lot of information that applied chiefly to teens.
For instance, Miss Johnson emphasized the difference between alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction and told Dante that individuals who continue to drink in an excessive manner regularly become dependent on alcohol.
Miss Johnson also discussed the concept of binge drinking that she defined as follows: consuming five or more drinks in one sitting for males and drinking four or more drinks in one sitting for females.
The Psychologist Conveys A Number Alcohol Addiction and Alcohol Abuse Statistics and Facts
Then Miss Johnson articulated various alcohol facts and the following eight alcohol abuse statistics:
1. Alcohol is an issue in roughly fifty percent of America's murders, suicides, and accidental deaths.
2. Accidents related to alcohol are the leading cause of deaths among young people.
3. Each year in the United States, just about 5,000 young people under the age of 21 die because of underage drinking. This includes nearly 1,900 fatalities from motor vehicle crashes.
4. Research has demonstrated that U.S. teenagers who drink alcohol are 50 times more likely to use cocaine than teens who never drink alcoholic beverages.
5. Around 1,700 college students in the United States lose their lives each year--around 4.65 a day--due to alcohol-related injuries.
6. In 2005, 2.1 million American college students between the ages of 18 and 24 reported that they involve themselves in drinking while driving.
7. The World Health Organization estimates that around 76 million individuals throughout the world have disorders that are related to alcohol dependency or alcohol abuse.
8. As revealed by recent alcohol abuse studies, it has been learned that approximately 53% of the adults in the United States have stated that one or more of their close family members has a drinking problem.
Dante Receives An Important Wake Up Call Regarding the Long Term and the Short Term Outcomes of Underage Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Addiction
After Miss Johnson stated the aforementioned alcoholism and alcohol abuse facts and statistics, it was clear that what Miss Johnson made known to Dante was a realization for him. Why? Because for the first time in his young life, someone not only made the effort to put in plain words the long term and the short term results of alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency, but she also took the time to support what she was saying with alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction facts and statistics that related to everybody in general, and particularly to young people.
As a matter of fact, it was almost as if a light went on and Dante without pause realized why he should not be engaging in hazardous and excessive drinking with or without his buddies any longer. Dante thanked Miss Johnson for her concern and for the material she presented.
Miss Johnson then asked Dante how he felt about getting a physical exam and an alcohol evaluation for the alcohol abuse or alcohol dependency rehabilitation he would probably need.
Dante thought about this for a minute and then agreed to get a comprehensive physical and to go through a complete assessment of his drinking condition so that he could start an alcohol abuse or alcoholism rehab program promptly.
