Dante was a eighteen year old high school senior who was exhibiting more than a few alcohol-related issues at school. As a result, the principal informed him that he had to see Miss Johnson, the school counselor, before he would be allowed to come back to school.
Later that day when Dante went home after school, he had to explain his school situation to his Mother and Father. His parents were “fairly conservative” and explained to Dante that dropping out of school was not a doable educational game plan. They informed Dante that failing to graduate from high school would probably be like a lead weight around his ankles that could quite possibly impede his educational achievement for the rest of his adult life. In addition, Dante’s Mother and Father were extremely discontented that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his peers in the second.
They explained to Dante that even though he may be an adolescent, he has to realize fairly rapidly that drinking is the route to failure, financial problems, ill health, and pain.
It was obvious that his parents were absolutely in agreement with Dante’s principal and told Dante that he had better make plans to see Miss Johnson, the school counselor. After his discussion with his parents, Dante eventually agreed to see Miss Johnson the next day. So Dante phoned the school and made an appointment to see Miss Johnson the next day during his sixth period class.
The Psychologist Asks Dante if He Understands Why His Recent Alcohol-Related Behavior Caused Quite a Bit of Concern By the School Administrators
When Dante arrived at his scheduled appointment with Miss Johnson, she at once looked at all of the alcohol-related difficulties Dante had gotten into and asked him if he knew why his recent alcohol-related behavior gave the school administrators room for alarm.
Quite honestly, Dante was unsure 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 behavior? Since virtually all of his classmates drink about as much as he does, basically, drinking shouldn’t be such a big issue. Stated another way, if just about everyone is drinking, why is this such a big deal?
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 in the seventh grade.
Miss Johnson explained to Dante that while his classmates may in fact drink as much as he does and that they may be a negative influence on him, the facts are that he is the one who is getting expelled from school due to alcohol-related absenteeism, fighting, and delinquency, not his buddies. Furthermore, Miss Johnson also underscored the fact that Dante, and not his classmates, is the one who is failing and who is missing at least one day of class per week due to his alcohol related issues. Lastly, Miss Johnson highlighted the fact that because of his drinking circumstances, Dante is getting into a negative cycle of excessive drinking that can ultimately destroy his dreams, hopes, and aspirations.
In a word, Dante’s involvement with teenage alcohol abuse was beginning to thwart his ability to act like an accountable young man. As put into words by Miss Johnson, “Just because most of your classmates drink wine, hard liquor, wine coolers, or beer does not mean that it is the best thing to do for you.”
Dante Learns That In Due Course He Must Be Accountable For Himself In Order to Avoid Damaging, Unhealthy, Dangerous, and Destructive Consequences In the Foreseeable Future
Miss Johnson told Dante that one’s pals can indeed influence an individual in an unhealthy manner, but that the person himself or herself has to eventually take responsibility for herself or himself in order to prevent damaging, destructive, dangerous, and unhealthy situations in the foreseeable future.
Fortunately, Miss Johnson was quite organized for her scheduled appointment with Dante. She showed him reports and research studies she had highlighted that outlined different drinking facts and statistics that applied to most people in general. Then she showed Dante a lot of data that applied chiefly to teens.
For instance, Miss Johnson underscored the difference between alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency and explained to Dante that people who continue to drink in an excessive manner commonly become alcoholic.
Miss Johnson also discussed the concept of binge drinking that she defined as follows: drinking five or more drinks in one sitting for males and consuming four or more drinks in one sitting for females.
The Counselor Conveys More Than a Few Alcohol Addiction and Alcohol Abuse Facts and Statistics
Then Miss Johnson stated various alcohol facts and the following eight alcohol abuse statistics:
1. As revealed in one study, roughly 11% of 8th-graders, 22% of 10th-graders, and 27% of 12th-graders articulated that they involved themselves in binge drinking.
2. Between 48% and 64% of the people who expire in fires have blood alcohol levels demonstrating inebriation.
3. Children who are drinking alcohol by 7th grade are more probable to display delinquent behavior, substance abuse, and academic problems in both high school and middle school.
4. In the United States, 25% of all emergency room admissions, 33% of all suicides, and more than 50% of all homicides and incidents of domestic violence are alcohol-related.
5. In the United States among drivers between the ages of 15 and 20, deadly accidents involving a single vehicle at night are three times more probable to be related to alcohol than to other deadly accidents.
6. In the U.S., more than 40 percent of the people who begin drinking before the age of 13 will develop alcoholism or alcohol abuse at some point in their lives.
7. In the United States, by the time they are seniors in high school, 80% of teenagers have used alcohol and 62% have been drunk.
8. Treatment for alcohol addiction has been demonstrated to reduce criminal activity up to 80% among chronic offenders, has reduced their health care costs, decreased their homelessness, and increased their rate of employment.
Dante Gets A Much Needed Primer on the Facts Regarding the Short Term and the Long Term Consequences of Teen Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
After Miss Johnson conveyed the aforementioned alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction statistics and facts, it was plain to see that what Miss Johnson revealed to Dante was a real source of revelation for him. Why? Because for the first time in his young life, someone not only made the effort to go over the short term and the long term effects of alcoholism and alcohol abuse, but she also took the time to demonstrate what she was saying with alcoholism and alcohol abuse facts and statistics that related to everyone in general, and particularly to teenagers.
Indeed, it was almost as if a light went on and Dante at once realized why he should not be engaging in excessive and abusive drinking with or without his peers any longer. Dante thanked Miss Johnson for her concern and for the information she presented.
Miss Johnson then asked Dante how he felt about getting a physical exam and an alcohol appraisal for the alcohol treatment he would probably need. Dante thought about this for few minutes and then agreed to get a thorough physical and to go through a comprehensive assessment of his drinking circumstances so that he could start an alcohol abuse or alcoholism rehabilitation program as soon as possible. After meeting with Miss Johnson, not only did he feel that he had established an enhanced relationship with her, but it was also evident that Dante’s self esteem and personal happiness had been enhanced as he started to face his careless and hazardous drinking.
