An Impatient High School Student Displays Numerous Alcohol-Related Difficulties, Gets Discharged From School, and Has to See the School Therapist

Dante was a fifteen year old high school sophomore who was manifesting a number of alcohol-related issues at school. For that reason, the principal informed him that he had to see Miss Johnson, the school counselor, before he would be permitted to come back to school.

Later that day when Dante went home after school, he had to clarify his school situation to his parents. His Mom and Dad were “old school” and explained to Dante that getting thrown out of school was not a doable educational option. They informed Dante that failing to graduate from high school would more likely than not be like a lead weight around his feet that could quite possibly harm his educational attainment for the rest of his adult life. Moreover, Dante’s Mom and Dad were extremely dismayed that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his buddies in the second.

His Mother and Father informed Dante that even though he may be a teenager, he has to comprehend fairly promptly that drinking is the road to failure, pain, ill health, and financial problems.

It was evident that his Mom and Dad were absolutely in agreement with Dante’s principal and explained to Dante that he needs to see Miss Johnson, the school therapist. After his discussion with his Mom and Dad, Dante at last agreed to see Miss Johnson the next day. So Dante called the school and scheduled an appointment to see Miss Johnson the next day during his fifth period class.

The Therapist Asks Dante if He Comprehends Why His Recent Alcohol-Related Behavior Caused Quite a Bit of Apprehension By the School Administrators

When Dante got to his scheduled appointment with Miss Johnson, she instantaneously reviewed all of the alcohol-related problems Dante had experienced and asked him if he comprehended why his recent alcohol-related behavior was such a cause for concern.

Quite sincerely, Dante wondered 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 situation? Since virtually all of his buddies drink as much if not more than he does, fundamentally, drinking shouldn’t be such a big issue. Stated more precisely, if just about everybody is drinking, why is this such a major issue?

Miss Johnson asked Dante when he started to drink. He said that some of his older buddies introduced him to drinking hard liquor when he was twelve or thirteen years old and getting ready to enter junior high school.

Miss Johnson explained to Dante that while his classmates may indeed drink as much as he does and that they may be an unhealthy influence on him, the facts are that he is the one who is getting kicked out of school due to alcohol-related absenteeism, fighting, and delinquency, not his friends. Not only this but Miss Johnson also underscored the fact that Dante, and not his buddies, is the one who is failing and who is missing almost two days of class per week due to his alcohol related difficulties. Lastly, Miss Johnson emphasized the fact that because of his drinking behavior, Dante is getting into a harmful cycle of alcohol abuse that can in time ruin his hopes, dreams and aspirations.

In a word, Dante’s involvement with youth alcohol abuse was starting to impede his ability to act like a responsible young man. As put into words by Miss Johnson, “Just because most of your pals drink wine coolers, hard liquor, beer, or wine does not mean that it is the best option for you.”

Dante Learns That At the End of the Day He Must Be Responsible For Himself In Order to Prevent Unhealthy, Destructive, Dangerous, and Damaging Consequences In the Future

Miss Johnson informed Dante that one’s buddies can definitely influence a person in an unhealthy way, but that the person herself or himself has to ultimately be accountable for herself or himself in order to keep away from destructive, unhealthy, dangerous, and damaging outcomes down the road.

Fortunately, Miss Johnson was quite organized for her appointment with Dante. She showed him research studies and reports she had highlighted that listed different drinking statistics and facts that applied to most people in general. Then she showed Dante a lot of information that applied especially to underage drinkers.

For example, Miss Johnson stressed the difference between alcohol dependency and alcohol abuse and told Dante that people who continue to drink in an excessive manner often 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 Counselor States Quite a Few Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse Statistics and Facts

Then Miss Johnson articulated various alcohol facts and the following eight alcohol abuse statistics:

1. The 25.9% of adolescent drinkers in the United States who are alcohol abusers and alcoholic drink 47.3% of the alcohol that is ingested by all teenage drinkers.

2. Fifty percent of U.S. homicides are related to alcohol.

3. In 2002, U.S. alcohol addiction facts and statistics revealed that 2.6 million binge drinkers were between the ages of 12 and 17.

4. It is projected that more than 3 million teens in the United States between the ages of 14 to 17 are alcoholic or alcohol abusers.

5. In the United States, more than 40 percent of those who start drinking at the age 14 or younger become alcohol dependent.

6. Very few of the more than 18 million U.S. alcohol abusers receive the alcohol treatment they require.

7. Teen drinking costs Americans nearly billion annually. If this cost were shared equally by each congressional district, the amount would total more than 0 million per district.

8. Alcohol-related problems are unevenly found among both juvenile and adult criminal offenders.

Dante Receives An Important Wake Up Call Regarding the Long Term and the Short Term Results of Teen Alcohol Dependency and Alcohol Abuse

After Miss Johnson articulated the aforementioned alcoholism and alcohol abuse facts and statistics, it was obvious that what Miss Johnson made known 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 articulate the long term and the short term effects of alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction, but she also made the effort to validate what she was saying with alcohol dependency and alcohol abuse facts and statistics that related to everyone in general, and chiefly to teenagers.

As a matter of fact, it was almost as if a light went on and Dante at once comprehended why he should not be engaging in excessive and hazardous drinking with or without his friends anymore. Dante thanked Miss Johnson for her concern and for the materials she discussed.

Miss Johnson then asked Dante how he felt about getting a physical examination and an alcohol assessment for the alcohol abuse or alcohol addiction rehabilitation he would probably need.

Dante thought about this for few minutes and then agreed to get an extensive physical and to go through a comprehensive assessment of his drinking condition so that he could start an alcohol abuse or alcohol addiction rehab program immediately.