An Anxious High School Student Manifests Numerous Alcohol-Related Problems, Gets Discharged From School, and Has to See the School Therapist

Dante was a fifteen year old high school sophomore who was manifesting a number of alcohol-related problems at school. For that reason, the principal told him that he had to see Miss Johnson, the school therapist, before he would be allowed to come back to school.

Later that day when Dante went home after school, he had to explain his school expulsion to his parents. His parents were “relatively conservative” and informed Dante that getting expelled from school was not a tolerable educational plan of action. They informed Dante that failing to graduate from high school would probably be like a lead weight around his feet that could conceivably inhibit his educational aspirations for the remainder of his adult life. Furthermore, Dante’s parents were very discontented that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his peers in the second.

His Mother and Father explained to Dante that even though he may be a teen, he needs to realize rather quickly that drinking is the route to pain, failure, financial problems, and ill health.

It was evident that his Mother and Father were absolutely in concurrence with Dante’s principal and told Dante that he had better come to the realization that he needs to see Miss Johnson, the school counselor. After his discussion with his parents, Dante in due course 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 Counselor Asks Dante if He Knows Why His Recent Alcohol-Related Behavior Caused Quite a Bit of Apprehension By the School Administrators

When Dante got to his scheduled appointment with Miss Johnson, she at once looked at all of the alcohol-related problems Dante had experienced and asked him if he understood why his recent alcohol-related behavior signaled such alarm.

Quite truthfully, Dante questioned 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 activities? Due to the fact that nearly all of his peers drink about as much as he does, basically, drinking shouldn’t be such a big thing. Stated more precisely, if just about everyone is drinking, why is this such a major issue?

Miss Johnson asked Dante when he started to drink alcoholic beverages. He said that some of his older friends introduced him to drinking wine coolers when he was twelve or thirteen years old and in the seventh grade.

Miss Johnson explained to Dante that while his friends may indeed drink as much as 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 absenteeism, fighting, and delinquency, not his friends. Not only this but Miss Johnson also stressed the fact that Dante, and not his peers, is the one who is failing and who is missing at least one day of school every week because of his alcohol related issues. Lastly, Miss Johnson emphasized the fact that because of his drinking situation, Dante is getting into a negative cycle of excessive drinking that can at the end of the day ruin his life.

In short, Dante’s involvement with teenage alcohol abuse was beginning to thwart his ability to act like a responsible young man. As conveyed by Miss Johnson, “Just because most of your friends drink wine, wine coolers, beer, or hard liquor does not mean that it is the best thing to do for you.”

Dante Learns That In the Long Run He Must Be Accountable For Himself In Order to Keep Away From Damaging, Dangerous, Destructive, and Unhealthy Outcomes In the Foreseeable Future

Miss Johnson informed Dante that other individuals can certainly influence a person in an unhealthy manner, but that the individual himself or herself has to in due course be responsible for himself or herself in order to keep away from dangerous, unhealthy, damaging, and destructive consequences in the future.

Fortunately, Miss Johnson was extremely well prepared for her scheduled time with Dante. She showed him research studies and reports she had highlighted that summarized different drinking statistics and facts that targeted most people in general. Then she showed Dante quite a lot of data that applied mainly to adolescents.

As an illustration, Miss Johnson highlighted the difference between alcoholism and alcohol abuse and informed Dante that people who continue to drink excessively often become addicted to alcohol.

Miss Johnson also explained the concept of binge drinking which she defined as follows: ingesting five or more drinks in one sitting for males and consuming four or more drinks in one sitting for females.

The Therapist Lists A Number Alcohol Dependency and Alcohol Abuse Statistics and Facts

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

1. As shown in one study, nearly 11% of 8th-graders, 22% of 10th-graders, and 27% of 12th-graders stated that they engaged in abusive drinking.

2. Between 48% and 64% of the individuals who expire in fires have blood alcohol levels indicating inebriation.

3. Children who are drinking alcohol by 7th grade are more likely to display delinquent behavior, substance abuse, and academic problems in both high school and middle school.

4. In the United States, more than 50% of all homicides and incidents of domestic violence are alcohol-related.

5. In the U.S. among drivers between the ages of 15 and 20, fatal crashes involving a single vehicle at night are three times more likely to be related to alcohol than to other deadly crashes.

6. In the United States, more than 40 percent of the people who start drinking before the age of 13 will develop alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence at some time in their lives.

7. In the United States, by the time they are high school seniors, 80% of high school students have tried alcohol and 62% have been intoxicated.

8. Treatment for alcoholism has been demonstrated to decrease criminal activity up to 80% among chronic offenders, has decreased their homelessness, increased their rate of employment, and reduced their health care costs.

Dante Receives An Important Primer on the Facts Regarding the Long Term and the Short Term Outcomes of Youth Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse

After Miss Johnson conveyed the aforementioned alcohol abuse and alcoholism facts and statistics, it was obvious that what Miss Johnson disclosed to Dante was a wake up call for him. Why? Because for the first time in his young life, someone not only made the effort to go over the short term and the long term effects of alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction, but she also took the time to substantiate what she was saying with alcohol dependency and alcohol abuse statistics and facts that related to people in general, and especially to underage drinkers.

In actual fact, it was almost as if a light went on and Dante instantly understood why he should not be engaging in hazardous and abusive drinking with or without his friends any longer. Dante thanked Miss Johnson for her concern and for the information she presented.

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 exam and to go through a thorough assessment of his drinking behavior so that he could start an alcohol rehabilitation program in a reasonable time frame.