An Impulsive High School Student Manifests A Number of Alcohol-Related Problems, Gets Thrown Out of School, and Has to See the School Counselor
Dante was a seventeen year old high school junior who was exhibiting a number of alcohol-related problems at school. As a result, the principal explained to him that he had to see Miss Johnson, the school therapist, before he would be permitted to return to class.
Later that day when Dante went home after school, he had to clarify his school expulsion to his parents. His Mother and Father were “fairly old-style” and informed Dante that getting thrown out of school was not a viable educational plan of action. They told Dante that failing to graduate from high school would more likely than not be like a lead weight around his feet that might impair his educational achievement for the remainder of his adult life. In addition, Dante’s Mother and Father were extremely distraught that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his buddies in the second.
His Mom and Dad informed Dante that although he may be a teenager, he needs to comprehend fairly promptly that drinking is the path to financial problems, ill health, failure, and pain.
It was evident that his Mom and Dad were out and out in full concurrence with Dante’s principal and explained to Dante that he had better make up his mind to see Miss Johnson, the school counselor. After his talk with his Mom and Dad, Dante at long last agreed to see Miss Johnson the next day. So Dante phoned the school and made an appointment to see Miss Johnson the next afternoon.
The Therapist Asks Dante if He Understands Why His Recent Alcohol-Related Actions Were Such a Cause For Concern By the School Administrators
When Dante went to see Miss Johnson, she immediately looked at all of the alcohol-related problems Dante had experienced and asked him if he knew why his recent alcohol-related activities signaled such alarm.
Quite frankly, Dante was not sure why the principal explained to him that he had to see a school psychologist. As he expressed to Miss Johnson, why should he see a professional psychologist about his drinking activities? Due to the fact that just about all of his buddies drink the same amount that he does, primarily, drinking is no big thing. Stated differently, 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 when he was twelve or thirteen years old and between the sixth and seventh grades.
Miss Johnson explained to Dante that while his friends 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 thrown out of school due to alcohol-related delinquency, absenteeism, and fighting, not his buddies. Not only this but Miss Johnson also stressed the fact that Dante, and not his friends, is the one who is failing and who is missing almost two days of class per week due to his alcohol related difficulties. Finally, Miss Johnson underscored the fact that because of his drinking circumstances, Dante is getting into a dangerous cycle of abusive drinking that can in time wreck his hopes, dreams and aspirations.
In a word, Dante’s involvement with youth alcohol abuse was beginning to short-circuit his ability to act like an accountable young man. As verbalized by Miss Johnson, “Just because most of your buddies drink hard liquor, beer, wine coolers, or wine does not mean that it is the best thing in the world for you.”
Dante Learns That In the End He Must Claim Responsibility For Himself In Order to Avert Dangerous, Unhealthy, Damaging, and Destructive Effects Down the Road
Miss Johnson explained to Dante that one’s pals can definitely influence an individual in a negative manner, but that the person himself or herself has to in time be responsible for herself or himself in order to avert dangerous, damaging, unhealthy, and destructive outcomes in the future.
Luckily, Miss Johnson was well equipped for her scheduled meeting with Dante. She showed him research studies and reports she had underlined that listed various drinking statistics and facts that applied to most people in general. Then she showed Dante a lot of information that applied mainly to underage drinkers.
As an illustration, Miss Johnson emphasized the difference between alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency and informed Dante that individuals who continue to drink abusively often become addicted to alcohol.
Miss Johnson also explained the concept of binge drinking that 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 Counselor Lists Several Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Dependency Facts and Statistics
Then Miss Johnson verbalized various alcohol facts and the following eight alcohol abuse statistics:
1. Alcohol is an issue in just about fifty percent of America’s murders, suicides, and accidental deaths.
2. Accidents related to alcohol are the leading cause of fatalities among teens.
3. Each year in the U.S., roughly 5,000 young people under the age of 21 lose their lives as a result of underage drinking. This includes almost 1,900 deaths from motor vehicle crashes.
4. Research has shown that U.S. teenagers who drink alcohol are 50 times more likely to use cocaine than adolescents who never ingest alcoholic beverages.
5. Just about 1,700 college students in the U.S. lose their lives annually–roughly 4.65 per day–as a result of alcohol-related injuries.
6. In 2005, 2.1 million American college students between the ages of 18 and 24 asserted that they involve themselves in drinking while driving.
7. The World Health Organization projects that just about 76 million people throughout the world experience disorders that are alcohol related.
8. According to recent alcohol abuse research findings, it has been discovered that about 53% of the adults in the U.S. have stated that one or more of their close family members is dependent on alcohol or is an alcohol abuser.
Dante Receives An Important Wake Up Call Concerning the Long Term and the Short Term Consequences of Adolescent Alcohol Addiction and Alcohol Abuse
After Miss Johnson verbalized the aforementioned alcohol abuse and alcoholism statistics and facts, it was clear that what Miss Johnson taught Dante was a real eye opener for him. Why? Because for the first time in his young life, someone not only made the effort to explain the short term and the long term consequences of alcohol dependency and alcohol abuse, but she also took the time to substantiate what she was saying with alcoholism and alcohol abuse statistics and facts that related to everyone, and particularly to teens.
Definitely, it was almost as if a light went on and Dante instantly comprehended why he should not be engaging in abusive and excessive drinking with or without his friends 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 examination and an alcohol evaluation for the alcohol abuse or alcohol dependency rehabilitation he would probably need.
Dante thought about this for few minutes and then agreed to get a comprehensive physical examination and to go through a comprehensive appraisal of his drinking circumstances so that he could start an alcohol abuse or alcohol addiction treatment program right away.
