How many people’s lives are cut short due to destructive and hazardous drinking? How many junior high, high school, and college students lose their lives every year due to an alcohol overdose? How many people are the victims of alcohol related crime or violence each and every year? How many people face severe consequences in their lives because they received a “driving under the influence conviction? On an annual basis, how many alcoholics fail to get the professional alcohol treatment they need? How many individuals get injured or lose their lives in alcohol related traffic accidents every year? How many people lose their lives each year from a condition that is one hundred percent preventable, such as alcohol poisoning? How many people experience alcohol related mental health problems like depression? How many individuals lose their lives every year because of drinking problems? How many children are born each year with fetal alcohol syndrome?

Why Would Anyone Want to Drink in an Abusive and Irresponsible Manner?

So what’s the point in asking these questions? Basically to highlight the devastating and destructive nature of excessive and careless drinking. Indeed, and based on the above questions, I wonder why anyone would choose to drink in an irresponsible and excessive manner.

Stated more precisely, with the host of relationship issues, legal proceedings, health dilemmas, financial problems, and employment difficulties that are correlated with alcohol dependency and chronic alcohol abuse, why would any person with average intelligence want to drink in a hazardous and abusive manner? In fact when some of the above topics are examined more closely, hazardous drinking becomes more illogical and makes even less sense.

Wouldn’t you think that heavy drinkers would be able to see some of the alcohol symptoms that they display? In a similar way doesn’t it seem feasible to think that more families would involve themselves in an alcohol intervention for the individual in the household who is an alcoholic or an alcohol abuser? Not only this but wouldn’t you think that people who drink heavily would try to learn more about their drinking behavior by reading about various alcohol related statistics?

After reviewing the alcoholism and alcohol abuse research findings, the point is so relevant that it needs to be said again: With all of the damaging and debilitating outcomes that are directly or indirectly associated with continuous and repetitive alcohol abuse and alcoholism, why would any person want to engage in hazardous and abusive drinking?

What Can be Done About the Extensive Nature of Alcohol Dependency and Alcohol Abuse in the United States?

So what can be done about the pervasive nature of alcoholism and alcohol abuse in our country?

1. Our students need more meaningful and more relevant preventative and educational approaches and methods so that more students at all grade levels, including those at college, are “reached.
2. In a similar manner, our students need to learn how to become problem solvers in life rather than gravitating to the “instant gratification” and the “quick fix” of an alcohol or drug abuse ”high” or “buzz”.
3. Individuals who are alcohol abusers or alcohol addicts need to look look at themselves candidly and ask why they are not getting the professional alcohol therapy they require.
4. Society needs to get the message to more people about the debilitating and destructive consequences of abusive and hazardous drinking.

There’s Room For Hope if Those Who Engage in Abusive Drinking Can Become Persuaded to Get the Alcohol Rehab They Require

There’s a lot of room for hope and optimism if people can start drinking responsibly and those who engage in unhealthy drinkingcan become motivated to get the alcohol rehab they require. Indeed, why put your loved ones through pain, suffering, and turmoil because of your abusive and unhealthy drinking when you have the power to control your life by drinking responsibly or even refraining from drinking if you can’t control your drinking behavior?

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.

When I was a sophomore in high school, I took a drug abuse class. At that time period, I did not grasp the fact that alcohol abuse in reality was a sub classification of drug abuse. While taking this class and learning more about drug and alcohol abuse and especially about alcohol side effects, I read a lot about Alcoholic Anonymous, their meetings, how their programs have twelve steps, and how successful the Alcoholics Anonymous recovery program has been for people throughout the world. I also learned quite a bit about alcohol treatment and the diverse alcohol rehab clinics that are frequently available to individuals who engage in heavy drinking.

Negative Consequences That are Linked to Alcohol Addiction and Alcohol Abuse

Some of the harmful end results associated with alcoholism and alcohol abuse that I learned about in this class without a doubt frightened me. The ruined lives and abundant difficulties experienced by most alcohol addicted people made me feel like I never wanted to drink alcohol when I became old enough. More to the point, I did not want to face the disaster and destruction that alcohol dependent individuals almost always go through.

Think about this for a moment. What fifteen-year-old teenager wants to face premature death due to his or her drinking behavior? What teenager wants to become so out-of-control regarding his or her drinking that ingesting alcohol becomes the object of one’s life? What teenager wants to go to one of the local alcoholic rehabilitation centers to deal with alcohol-related issues before he or she becomes an adult?

What teenager wants to experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms when he or she tries to stop drinking? Why would a person engage in drinking to such an extent that it would cause problems in every area of his or her life? Drinking later in life after a person has a career, a family, and develops personal responsibilities makes sense. But why would a young person want to sacrifice his or her education, employment, finances, and relationships for a life that focuses on hazardous drinking?

These issues were so noteworthy that I discussed some of them in class throughout the school year. What was entirely amazing to me was the number of students who simply didn’t care about the detrimental results of irresponsible drinking that I discussed. It was almost as if they couldn’t care less about the facts and how these effects can ruin their lives. For the first time in my life I started to comprehend a saying that my grandfather used to articulate all through my teen and pre-teen years: you can lead a horse to water but you can’t force it to drink.

It’s Beneficial, Liberating, and Important to Remove Yourself From the Unhealthy and Debilitating Consequences of Alcohol and Drug Abuse

And even at my young age, I also began to realize how liberating, beneficial, and important it is in life to remove yourself from the unhealthy and destructive results of drug and alcohol abuse.