Dante was a eighteen year old high school senior who was manifesting several alcohol-related difficulties at school. Consequently, the principal informed him that he had to see Miss Johnson, the school counselor, before he would be permitted to return to school.

Later that afternoon when Dante went home after school, he had to explain his school discharge to his parents. His parents were “fairly old-style” and told Dante that getting removed from school was not a viable educational plan of action. They explained to Dante that failing to graduate from high school would likely be like a lead weight around his feet that may hamper his educational aspirations for the remainder of his adult life. In addition, Dante’s Mother and Father were extremely let down that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his buddies in the second.

His Mom and Dad told Dante that even though he may be young, he has to comprehend fairly promptly that drinking is the map to failure, ill health, financial problems, and pain.

It was obvious that his parents were out-and-out in full agreement with Dante’s principal and explained to Dante that he had to see Miss Johnson, the school therapist. After his dialogue with his parents, 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 second period class.

The Counselor Asks Dante if He Understands Why His Recent Alcohol-Related Behavior gave the School Administrators Room For Alarm

When Dante went to see Miss Johnson, she without pause surveyed all of the alcohol-related issues Dante had experienced and asked him if he comprehended why his recent alcohol-related activities made the school administrators uneasy.

Quite truthfully, Dante wondered why the principal suggested that he see a school counselor. As he expressed to Miss Johnson, why should he see a professional psychologist about his drinking situation? Since nearly all of his classmates drink as much if not more than he does, in essence, drinking shouldn’t be such a big issue. Stated more forcefully, if just about everybody 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 buddies introduced him to drinking beer when he was twelve or thirteen years old and in the seventh grade.

Miss Johnson told Dante that while his peers may in fact 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 suspended from school due to alcohol-related delinquency, absenteeism, and fighting, not his friends. What is more, Miss Johnson also underlined the fact that Dante, and not his buddies, is the one who is failing and who is missing at least one day 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 destructive cycle of abusive drinking that can at the end of the day wreck his hopes, dreams and aspirations.

In a word, Dante’s involvement with teenage alcohol abuse was starting to foil his ability to act like an accountable young man. As put into words by Miss Johnson, “Just because most of your peers drink wine coolers, hard liquor, wine, or beer does not mean that it is the appropriate behavior for you.”

Dante Learns That Ultimately He Must Take Responsibility For Himself In Order to Steer Clear of Dangerous, Destructive, Unhealthy, and Damaging Effects In the Future

Miss Johnson told Dante that others can definitely influence an individual in a negative way, but that the individual himself or herself has to in time take responsibility for herself or himself in order to keep away from destructive, dangerous, unhealthy, and damaging outcomes in the foreseeable future.

Fortunately, Miss Johnson was extremely well prepared for her appointment with Dante. She showed him reports and research studies she had highlighted that outlined various drinking statistics and facts that targeted most people in general. Then she showed Dante quite a bit of data that applied particularly to adolescents.

For instance, Miss Johnson highlighted the difference between alcoholism and alcohol abuse and explained to Dante that individuals who continue to drink abusively frequently become dependent on alcohol.

Miss Johnson also articulated the concept of binge drinking that she defined as follows: ingesting four or more drinks in one sitting for females and drinking four or more drinks in one sitting for females.

The Psychologist States More Than a Few Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse Statistics and Facts

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

1. Alcohol dependence and alcohol abuse cost the U.S. an estimated 0 billion in 2005. This dollar amount was more than the cost correlated with cancer (6 billion) or with obesity (3 billion.

2. More than one-half of American adults have a close family member or relative who has or has had alcohol dependency.

3. More than seventy-five percent of female victims of nonfatal, domestic violence claimed that their assailant had been drinking or using drugs.

4. In the U.S. on an annual basis, more than one third of pedestrians killed by autos were legally intoxicated.

5. One national study found that students are less likely to drink alcohol if they are socially accepted by others at school and feel that teachers treat students fairly.

6. Research demonstrates that teens who use alcohol may remember 10 percent less of what they have learned than youth who don’t drink.

7. Nearly 10% to 20% of the people who drink in an excessive manner eventually 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 fatalities and forty-seven percent of industrial injuries are linked to alcoholism or alcohol abuse.

Dante Gets A Relevant Jolt of Reality Concerning the Short Term and the Long Term Effects of Youth Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

After Miss Johnson verbalized the aforementioned alcohol abuse and alcoholism statistics and facts, it was evident that what Miss Johnson disclosed to Dante was a realization for him. Why? Because for the first time in his young life, someone not only made the effort to explain the long term and the short term outcomes of alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction, but she also took the time to authenticate what she was saying with alcohol abuse and alcoholism facts and statistics that related to everyone in general, and especially to adolescents.

Undeniably, it was almost as if a light went on and Dante without pause realized why he should not be engaging in excessive and hazardous drinking with or without his peers 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 exam and an alcohol appraisal for the alcohol abuse or alcohol addiction rehabilitation he would probably need.

Dante thought about this for a minute and then agreed to get a comprehensive physical exam and to go through a complete appraisal of his drinking circumstances so that he could start an alcohol abuse or alcoholism treatment program in a realistic time frame.