Dante was a eighteen year old high school senior who was exhibiting numerous alcohol-related difficulties at school. Therefore, the principal explained to him that he had to see Miss Johnson, the school therapist, before he would be permitted to return to school.

Later that afternoon when Dante went home after school, he had to go over his school expulsion with his Mother and Father. His parents were “old school” and told Dante that getting expelled from school was not a doable educational option. They informed Dante that failing to graduate from high school would more likely than not be like a lead weight around his legs that could conceivably inhibit his educational aspirations for the rest of his adult life. Moreover, Dante’s Mom and Dad were very saddened that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his classmates in the second.

His Mother and Father told Dante that even though he may be a teenager, he has to realize fairly promptly that drinking is the road to ill health, failure, pain, and financial problems.

It was evident that his Mother and Father were absolutely in accord with Dante’s principal and informed Dante that he had better make up his mind to see Miss Johnson, the school counselor. After his discussion with his Mom and Dad, Dante in the end agreed to see Miss Johnson the next school day. So Dante phoned the school and made an appointment to see Miss Johnson the next day during his sixth period class.

The Psychologist Asks Dante if He Understands Why His Recent Alcohol-Related Behavior Signaled Such Alarm By the School Administrators

When Dante went to see Miss Johnson, she at once analyzed all of the alcohol-related problems Dante had experienced and asked him if he comprehended why his recent alcohol-related activities caused quite a bit of concern by the school administrators.

Quite honestly, Dante was not sure why the principal explained to him that he had to see a school counselor. As he expressed to Miss Johnson, why should he see a professional psychologist about his drinking behavior? Because just about all of his classmates drink about as much as he does, drinking really shouldn’t be such a big thing. Stated more explicitly, if almost everybody is drinking, why is this such a big thing?

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

Miss Johnson told Dante that while his friends may in fact drink as much as 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 pals. Furthermore, Miss Johnson also highlighted the fact that Dante, and not his peers, is the one who is failing and who is missing at least two days of school every week due to his alcohol related problems. Finally, Miss Johnson underscored the fact that because of his drinking situation, Dante is getting into a damaging cycle of alcohol abuse that can in due course ruin his hopes, dreams and aspirations.

In short, Dante’s involvement with teenage alcohol abuse was starting to thwart his ability to function as an accountable young man. As verbalized by Miss Johnson, “Just because most of your buddies drink hard liquor, wine coolers, beer, or wine does not mean that it is the best thing to do for you.”

Dante Learns That In Due Course He Must Claim Responsibility For Himself In Order to Stay Away From Destructive, Dangerous, Unhealthy, and Damaging Situations Down the Road

Miss Johnson told Dante that one’s pals can without a doubt influence a person in an unhealthy manner, but that the person herself or himself has to in the long run be accountable for herself or himself in order to steer clear of destructive, dangerous, unhealthy, and damaging circumstances in the foreseeable future.

Fortunately, Miss Johnson was quite organized for her scheduled appointment 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 bit of information that applied mainly to adolescents.

For example, Miss Johnson emphasized the difference between alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse and explained to Dante that individuals who continue to drink in an excessive manner more often than not become alcohol dependent.

Miss Johnson also discussed 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 Psychologist Lists More Than a Few Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Addiction Statistics and Facts

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

1. According to one study, around 11% of 8th-graders, 22% of 10th-graders, and 27% of 12th-graders reported that they engaged in hazardous drinking.

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

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

4. In the U.S., 33% of all suicides, 25% of all emergency room admissions, and 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, deadly accidents involving a single vehicle at night are three times more probable to be alcohol-related than to other fatal accidents.

6. In the U.S., more than 40 percent of the individuals who begin drinking before the age of 13 will develop alcohol abuse or alcohol addiction at some time in their lives.

7. In the U.S, by the time they are seniors in high school, 80% of teenagers have used alcohol and 62% have been drunk.

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

Dante Gets An Important Wake Up Call Regarding the Short Term and the Long Term Effects of Teenage Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse

After Miss Johnson went over the aforementioned alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency facts and statistics, it was obvious that what Miss Johnson taught Dante was a real source of revelation for him. Why? Because for the first time in his young life, someone not only took the time to give an explanation of the long term and the short term consequences of alcohol abuse and alcoholism, but she also made the effort to substantiate what she was saying with alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse statistics and facts that related to everyone in general, and principally to young people.

Definitely, it was almost as if a light went on and Dante without pause comprehended 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 material she reviewed.

Miss Johnson then asked Dante how he felt about getting a physical exam and an alcohol evaluation for the alcohol rehabilitation he would probably need. Dante thought about this for few minutes and then agreed to get a comprehensive physical and to go through an extensive appraisal of his drinking situation so that he could start an alcohol abuse or alcohol addiction rehabilitation program right away. After meeting with Miss Johnson, not only did he sense that he had established an enhanced relationship with her, but it was also apparent that Dante’s personal happiness and self esteem had been boosted as he started to face his excessive and hazardous drinking.