Dante was a fifteen year old high school sophomore who was displaying several alcohol-related difficulties at school. Consequently, the principal explained to him that he had to see Miss Johnson, the school counselor, before he would be permitted to return to class.
Later that afternoon when Dante went home after school, he had to clarify his school situation to his Mom and Dad. His Mom and Dad were “fairly conventional” and told Dante that getting expelled from school was not a viable educational plan of action. They explained to Dante that failing to graduate from high school would probably be like a lead weight around his ankles that could conceivably inhibit his educational achievement for the rest of his adult life. Furthermore, Dante’s parents were extremely letdown that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his peers in the second.
They informed Dante that although he may be an adolescent, he has to comprehend fairly rapidly that drinking is the route to failure, financial problems, ill health, and pain.
It was clear that his Mother and Father were in total agreement with Dante’s principal and explained to Dante that he had better make plans to see Miss Johnson, the school counselor. After his dialogue with his parents, Dante finally agreed to see Miss Johnson the next school day. So Dante called the school and scheduled an appointment to see Miss Johnson the next day during his sixth period class.
The Counselor Asks Dante if He Comprehends Why His Recent Alcohol-Related Actions Gave the School Administrators Room For Alarm
When Dante went to see Miss Johnson, she without pause went over all of the alcohol-related issues Dante had gotten into and asked him if he comprehended why his recent alcohol-related actions caused quite a bit of apprehension by the school administrators.
Quite sincerely, Dante questioned why the principal explained to him that he had to see a school counselor. As he stated to Miss Johnson, why should he see a professional psychologist about his drinking circumstances? In view of the fact that nearly all of his pals drink as much if not more than he does, in essence, drinking shouldn’t be such a big thing. Stated more precisely, if almost everybody is drinking, why is this such a big thing?
Miss Johnson asked Dante when he started to drink alcoholic beverages. He said that some of his older pals introduced him to drinking beer when he was twelve or thirteen years old and between the sixth and seventh grades.
Miss Johnson informed Dante that while his pals may indeed drink more than he does and that they may be an unhealthy influence on him, the facts are that he is the one who is getting thrown out of school due to alcohol-related absenteeism, fighting, and delinquency, not his classmates. Moreover, Miss Johnson also highlighted the fact that Dante, and not his pals, is the one who is failing and who is missing one day of class every week because of his alcohol related issues. Lastly, Miss Johnson highlighted the fact that because of his drinking circumstances, Dante is getting into a harmful cycle of hazardous drinking that can finally destroy his aspirations, hopes, and dreams.
In a word, Dante’s involvement with youth alcohol abuse was beginning to foil his ability to act like a responsible young man. As verbalized by Miss Johnson, “Just because most of your friends drink beer, wine coolers, wine, or hard liquor does not mean that it is the correct behavior for you.”
Dante Learns That In the Long Run He Must Be Responsible For Himself In Order to Prevent Dangerous, Damaging, Unhealthy, and Destructive Consequences In the Future
Miss Johnson explained to Dante that one’s classmates can indeed influence an individual in an unhealthy manner, but that the individual himself or herself has to finally be accountable for himself or herself in order to avert unhealthy, dangerous, damaging, and destructive outcomes in the future.
Fortunately, Miss Johnson was very well equipped for her scheduled time with Dante. She showed him reports and research studies she had highlighted that summarized various drinking statistics and facts that targeted most people in general. Then she showed Dante quite a lot of figures and reports that applied especially to adolescents.
For example, Miss Johnson explained the difference between alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction and told Dante that drinkers who continue to abuse alcohol habitually become addicted to alcohol.
Miss Johnson also articulated the concept of binge drinking which she defined as follows: consuming four or more drinks in one sitting for females and drinking five or more drinks in one sitting for males.
The Psychologist Articulates A Number Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse Facts and Statistics
Then Miss Johnson articulated various alcohol facts and the following eight alcohol abuse statistics:
1. Alcohol is an issue in nearly 50% of America’s murders, suicides, and accidental deaths.
2. Alcohol-related accidents are the leading cause of deaths among teens.
3. Each year in the United States, approximately 5,000 young people under the age of 21 lose their lives due to underage drinking. This includes roughly 1,900 fatalities from motor vehicle accidents.
4. Research has revealed that U.S. teenagers who drink alcohol are 50 times more likely to use cocaine than adolescents who never consume alcohol.
5. Just about 1,700 college students in the U.S. are killed each year–approximately 4.65 per day–because of alcohol-related injuries.
6. In 2005, 2.1 million American college students between the ages of 18 and 24 asserted that they engage in driving under the influence of alcohol.
7. The World Health Organization estimates that almost 76 million people throughout the world suffer from disorders that are related to alcoholism or alcohol abuse.
8. As demonstrated by recent alcoholism studies, it has been learned that just about 53% of the adults in the United States have stated that one or more of their close family members is an alcohol abuser or an alcoholic.
Dante Gets A Much Needed Wake Up Call Concerning the Long Term and the Short Term Effects of Underage Alcohol Dependency and Alcohol Abuse
After Miss Johnson went over the aforementioned alcoholism and alcohol abuse statistics and facts, it was apparent that what Miss Johnson made known to Dante was a real jolt to him. Why? Because for the first time in his young life, someone not only made the effort to give an explanation of the long term and the short term consequences of alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency, but she also made the effort to validate what she was saying with alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction statistics and facts that related to everyone, and especially to young people.
In actual fact, it was almost as if a light went on and Dante at once comprehended why he should not be engaging in hazardous and abusive drinking with or without his buddies any longer. Dante thanked Miss Johnson for her concern and for the information she discussed.
Miss Johnson then asked Dante how he felt about getting a physical examination and an alcohol evaluation for the alcohol abuse or alcoholism rehab 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 rehabilitation program as soon as possible.