Dante was a seventeen year old high school senior who was displaying several alcohol-related issues at school. Consequently, the principal informed him that he had to see Miss Johnson, the school counselor, before he would be allowed to come back to class.
Later that day when Dante went home after school, he had to clarify his school discharge to his Mom and Dad. His Mom and Dad were “fairly conservative” and explained to Dante that getting removed from school was not a practical educational game plan. They explained to Dante that failing to graduate from high school would more likely than not be like a lead weight around his feet that might hinder his educational aspirations for the remainder of his life. Furthermore, Dante’s Mom and Dad were very discontented that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his friends in the second.
They told Dante that even though he may be a teen, he needs to realize fairly rapidly that drinking is the road to ill health, failure, pain, and financial problems.
It was evident that his Mom and Dad were in total concurrence with Dante’s principal and explained to Dante that he had better come to the realization that he needs to see Miss Johnson, the school therapist. After his dialogue with his parents, Dante in the end 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 his sixth period class.
The Counselor Asks Dante if He Knows Why His Recent Alcohol-Related Actions Caused Quite a Bit of Concern By the School Administrators
When Dante arrived at his scheduled appointment with Miss Johnson, she instantaneously surveyed all of the alcohol-related problems Dante had experienced and asked him if he comprehended why his recent alcohol-related behavior caused quite a bit of concern by the school administrators.
Quite frankly, Dante was unsure why the principal told him he had to see a school therapist. As he stated to Miss Johnson, why should he see a professional psychologist about his drinking behavior? In view of the fact that nearly all of his pals drink the same amount that he does, in effect, drinking is no big thing. Stated differently, if almost everyone is drinking, why is this such a big thing?
Miss Johnson asked Dante when he started to drink. He said that some of his older friends introduced him to drinking hard liquor when he was twelve or thirteen years old and getting ready to enter junior high school.
Miss Johnson told Dante that while his friends 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 discharged from school due to alcohol-related delinquency, absenteeism, and fighting, not his classmates. Moreover, 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 school every week due to his alcohol related difficulties. Lastly, Miss Johnson underscored the fact that due to his drinking behavior, Dante is getting into a harmful cycle of alcohol abuse that can in the long run destroy his life.
In a word, Dante’s involvement with teenage alcohol abuse was beginning to thwart his ability to behave like a responsible young man. As conveyed by Miss Johnson, “Just because most of your buddies drink hard liquor, wine coolers, wine, or beer does not mean that it is the healthiest thing for you.”
Dante Learns That In the End He Must Claim Responsibility For Himself In Order to Keep Away From Unhealthy, Dangerous, Destructive, and Damaging Circumstances In the Future
Miss Johnson told Dante that other individuals can without a doubt influence a person in a negative manner, but that the person herself or himself has to in the end claim responsibility for himself or herself in order to stay away from dangerous, unhealthy, damaging, and destructive outcomes in the foreseeable future.
Luckily, Miss Johnson was extremely well prepared for her scheduled appointment with Dante. She showed him reports and research studies she had underlined that outlined diverse drinking facts and statistics that targeted most people in general. Then she showed Dante quite a bit of information that applied particularly to teens.
For example, Miss Johnson emphasized the difference between alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse and explained to Dante that drinkers who continue to abuse alcohol more often than not become dependent on alcohol.
Miss Johnson also went over the concept of binge drinking which 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 Articulates A Number Alcohol Addiction and Alcohol Abuse Facts and Statistics
Then Miss Johnson presented various alcohol facts and the following eight alcohol abuse statistics:
1. Alcoholism and alcohol abuse cost the United States an estimated 0 billion in 2005. This dollar amount was more than the cost associated with cancer (6 billion) or with obesity (3 billion.
2. More than one-half of U.S. adults have a close family member or relative that has or has had alcohol dependency.
3. More than 75% of female victims of nonfatal, domestic violence stated that their assailant had been drinking or using drugs.
4. In the U.S. on a yearly basis, more than 33% of pedestrians killed by cars were legally inebriated.
5. One national survey found that students are less likely to use alcohol if they are socially accepted by others at school and believe that teachers treat students in a fair manner.
6. Research shows that teens who drink alcohol may remember 10 percent less of what they have learned than teenagers who don’t drink.
7. Around 10% to 20% of the individuals who drink in an abusive manner in the long run develop cirrhosis of the liver (i.e., a scarring of the liver that can be fatal).
8. Up to 40 percent of the U.S. industrial fatalities and 47 percent of industrial injuries are associated with alcohol abuse or alcohol dependency.
Dante Receives An Important Jolt of Reality About the Long Term and the Short Term Results of Teen Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
After Miss Johnson articulated the aforementioned alcoholism and alcohol abuse statistics and facts, it was apparent 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 took the time to explain the long term and the short term results of alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency, but she also took the time to corroborate what she was saying with alcohol dependency and alcohol abuse statistics and facts that related to people in general, and especially to young people.
Certainly, it was almost as if a light went on and Dante instantaneously comprehended why he should not be engaging in hazardous and excessive drinking with or without his pals any longer. 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 a minute and then agreed to get an extensive physical exam and to go through a complete assessment of his drinking circumstances so that he could start an alcohol abuse or alcohol dependency rehab program promptly.
Monday, November 9th, 2009, 7:46 am | 
Kids And Teens | 
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