Dante was a fifteen year old high school sophomore who was manifesting more than a few alcohol-related problems at school. Therefore, the principal explained to him that he had to see Miss Johnson, the school psychologist, before he would be permitted to come back to school.
Later that afternoon when Dante went home after school, he had to clarify his school expulsion to his parents. His Mom and Dad were “fairly old-fashioned” and explained to Dante that getting kicked out of school was not a satisfactory educational option. They informed Dante that failing to graduate from high school would likely be like a lead weight around his ankles that could probably mar his educational attainment for the remainder of his adult life. Not only this, but Dante’s Mom and Dad were extremely discontented that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his pals in the second.
His Mom and Dad informed Dante that although he may be a teen, he has to realize rather quickly that drinking is the route to failure, financial problems, pain, and ill health.
It was plain to see that his Mom and Dad were in total agreement with Dante’s principal and informed Dante that he had to see Miss Johnson, the school psychologist. After his talk with his Mother and Father, Dante finally agreed to see Miss Johnson the next school day. So Dante phoned the school and scheduled an appointment to see Miss Johnson the next day during lunch.
The Psychologist Asks Dante if He Knows Why His Recent Alcohol-Related Activities Made the School Administrators Uneasy
When Dante went to see Miss Johnson, she instantaneously looked at all of the alcohol-related problems Dante had gotten into and asked him if he understood why his recent alcohol-related behavior was such a cause for concern.
Quite sincerely, Dante questioned why the principal suggested that he see a school therapist. As he stated to Miss Johnson, why should he see a professional psychologist about his drinking activities? In view of the fact that just about all of his friends drink about as much as he does, drinking really is no big issue. Stated more directly, if almost everyone is drinking, why is this such a major problem?
Miss Johnson asked Dante when he started to drink alcoholic beverages. He said that some of his older pals introduced him to drinking wine coolers when he was twelve or thirteen years old and getting ready to enter junior high school.
Miss Johnson explained to Dante that while his friends may indeed drink more than he does and that they may be a bad 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 classmates, is the one who is failing and who is missing one day of school every week due to his alcohol related issues. Finally, Miss Johnson stressed the fact that because of his drinking activities, Dante is getting into a destructive cycle of hazardous drinking that can finally wreck his hopes, dreams and aspirations.
In short, Dante’s involvement with teenage alcohol abuse was beginning to thwart his ability to behave like a responsible young man. As stated by Miss Johnson, “Just because most of your peers drink beer, hard liquor, wine, or wine coolers does not mean that it is the correct behavior for you.”
Dante Learns That Eventually He Must Be Accountable For Himself In Order to Avoid Damaging, Destructive, Dangerous, and Unhealthy Circumstances In the Foreseeable Future
Miss Johnson informed Dante that one’s peers can definitely influence an individual in a negative manner, but that the person himself or herself has to in the long run be accountable for herself or himself in order to steer clear of destructive, unhealthy, damaging, and dangerous situations in the future.
Luckily, Miss Johnson was well equipped for her discussion with Dante. She showed him research studies and reports she had underlined that outlined diverse drinking statistics and facts that applied to most people in general. Then she showed Dante a lot of figures and reports that applied chiefly to underage drinkers.
As an illustration, Miss Johnson explained the difference between alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency and told Dante that people who continue to drink in an abusive manner habitually become alcoholic.
Miss Johnson also discussed the concept of binge drinking which 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 Articulates Numerous Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Facts and Statistics
Then Miss Johnson verbalized various alcohol facts and the following eight alcohol abuse statistics:
1. Alcohol abuse and Alcoholism cost the United States an estimated 0 billion in 2005. This dollar amount was more than the cost related to cancer (6 billion) or with obesity (3 billion.
2. More than one-half of U.S. adults have a close relative or family member that has or has had alcoholism.
3. More than 75% of female victims of nonfatal, domestic violence stated that their assailant had been drinking or using drugs.
4. In the United States on a yearly basis, more than one third of pedestrians killed by cars were legally drunk.
5. One national research study discovered that students are less likely to drink alcohol if they are socially accepted by people at school and feel that teachers treat students fairly.
6. Research demonstrates that youth who use alcohol may remember 10 percent less of what they have learned than those who don’t drink.
7. About ten to twenty percent of the people who drink heavily in due course develop cirrhosis of the liver (i.e., a scarring of the liver that can be fatal).
8. Up to forty percent of the U.S. industrial deaths and 47% of industrial injuries are linked to alcohol abuse or alcohol addiction.
Dante Gets A Relevant Primer on the Facts Concerning the Short Term and the Long Term Effects of Youth Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Dependency
After Miss Johnson listed the aforementioned alcohol dependency and alcohol abuse statistics and facts, it was obvious that what Miss Johnson taught Dante was a realization for him. Why? Because for the first time in his young life, someone not only took the time to go over the short term and the long term consequences of alcohol abuse and alcoholism, but she also made the effort to substantiate what she was saying with alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse facts and statistics that related to people in general, and mainly to adolescents.
To be sure, it was almost as if a light went on and Dante immediately comprehended why he should not be engaging in hazardous and abusive drinking with or without his pals anymore. Dante thanked Miss Johnson for her concern and for the information she went over.
Miss Johnson then asked Dante how he felt about getting a physical exam and an alcohol evaluation for the alcohol rehabilitation he would probably need.
Dante thought about this for few minutes and then agreed to get a comprehensive physical exam and to go through a thorough assessment of his drinking circumstances so that he could start an alcohol abuse or alcoholism rehab program right away.
