Dante was a eighteen year old high school senior who was displaying several alcohol-related problems at school. As a result, the principal told him that he had to see Miss Johnson, the school therapist, before he would be allowed to return to class.
Later that afternoon when Dante went home after school, he had to clarify his school expulsion to his parents. His Mom and Dad were “relatively traditional” and informed Dante that dropping out of school was not a workable educational option. They explained to Dante that failing to graduate from high school would probably be like a lead weight around his feet that could conceivably hurt his educational aspirations for the rest of his adult life. Furthermore, Dante’s Mother and Father were very dismayed that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his buddies in the second.
They told Dante that although he may be a teenager, he has to understand without much delay that drinking is the route to financial problems, failure, pain, and ill health.
It was clear that his parents were completely in accord with Dante’s principal and explained to Dante that he needs to see Miss Johnson, the school counselor. After his dialogue with his parents, Dante finally 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 Therapist Asks Dante if He Understands Why His Recent Alcohol-Related Behavior Was Such a Cause For Concern By the School Administrators
When Dante arrived at his scheduled appointment with Miss Johnson, she instantly examined all of the alcohol-related issues Dante had experienced and asked him if he knew why his recent alcohol-related actions were such a cause for concern.
Quite sincerely, Dante was not sure why the principal told him he had to see a school psychologist. As he stated to Miss Johnson, why should he see a professional therapist about his drinking activities? Since nearly all of his friends drink about as much as he does, in essence, drinking shouldn’t be such a big deal. Stated differently, if nearly everyone 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 in the seventh grade.
Miss Johnson told Dante that while his buddies may indeed drink more than he does and that they may be a negative influence on him, the facts are that he is the one who is getting expelled from school due to alcohol-related delinquency, absenteeism, and fighting, not his pals. Not only this but Miss Johnson also highlighted the fact that Dante, and not his buddies, is the one who is failing and who is missing at least two days of class every week due to his alcohol related issues. Lastly, Miss Johnson emphasized the fact that due to his drinking activities, Dante is getting into a harmful cycle of alcohol abuse that can sooner or later destroy his aspirations, hopes, and dreams.
In short, Dante’s involvement with teenage alcohol abuse was beginning to thwart his ability to act like an accountable young man. As stated by Miss Johnson, “Just because most of your pals drink wine coolers, wine, hard liquor, or beer does not mean that it is the best thing to do for you.”
Dante Learns That Ultimately He Must Take Responsibility For Himself In Order to Stay Away From Damaging, Destructive, Dangerous, and Unhealthy Consequences In the Future
Miss Johnson told Dante that one’s classmates can indeed influence an individual in an unhealthy way, but that the person himself or herself has to in the end be accountable for herself or himself in order to stay away from dangerous, destructive, damaging, and unhealthy outcomes in the foreseeable future.
Luckily, Miss Johnson was very organized for her scheduled time with Dante. She showed him research studies and reports she had underlined that summarized different drinking facts and statistics that applied to most people in general. Then she showed Dante quite a bit of figures and reports that applied chiefly to underage drinkers.
For example, Miss Johnson highlighted the difference between alcohol dependency and alcohol abuse and explained to Dante that drinkers who continue to drink in a hazardous manner more often than not become dependent on alcohol.
Miss Johnson also articulated the concept of binge drinking which she defined as follows: drinking five or more drinks in one sitting for males and consuming four or more drinks in one sitting for females.
The Counselor Conveys Several Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Statistics and Facts
Then Miss Johnson conveyed various alcohol facts and the following eight alcohol abuse statistics:
1. Alcohol abuse and Alcoholism cost the United States an estimated $220 billion in 2005. This dollar amount was more than the cost correlated with cancer ($196 billion) or with obesity ($133 billion.
2. More than one-half of American adults have a close relative or family member who has or has had alcohol addiction.
3. More than three fourths of female victims of nonfatal, domestic violence stated that their assailant had been using drugs or drinking.
4. In the United States on a yearly basis, more than thirty-three percent of pedestrians killed by automobiles were legally inebriated.
5. One national survey uncovered the fact that students are less likely to use alcohol if they are socially accepted by people at school and believe that teachers treat students fairly.
6. Research indicates that teens who use alcohol may remember 10 percent less of what they have learned than teenagers who don’t drink.
7. About ten to twenty percent of the people who drink abusively eventually develop cirrhosis of the liver (i.e., a scarring of the liver that can be fatal).
8. Up to 40% of the U.S. industrial fatalities and 47 percent of industrial injuries are correlated with alcoholism or alcohol abuse.
Dante Receives A Much Needed Jolt of Reality About the Long Term and the Short Term Effects of Adolescent Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
After Miss Johnson verbalized the aforementioned alcohol abuse and alcoholism statistics and facts, it was clear that what Miss Johnson made known to Dante was a realization for him. Why? Because for the first time in his young life, someone not only made the effort to articulate the short term and the long term results of alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency, but she also took the time to authenticate what she was saying with alcohol abuse and alcoholism statistics and facts that related to everybody in general, and particularly to teenagers.
Undeniably, it was almost as if a light went on and Dante instantaneously realized 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 discussed.
Miss Johnson then asked Dante how he felt about getting a physical exam and an alcohol evaluation for the alcohol rehab he would probably need. Dante thought about this for a minute and then agreed to get a complete physical examination and to go through an extensive evaluation of his drinking behavior so that he could start an alcohol abuse or alcoholism rehab program in a reasonable time frame. After meeting with Miss Johnson, it was clear that Dante’s self esteem and self image had been enhanced as he started to face his careless and hazardous drinking.