Dante was a sixteen year old high school junior who was exhibiting a number of alcohol-related difficulties at school. As a result, the principal explained to 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 explain his school expulsion to his Mother and Father. His Mom and Dad were “relatively old-style” and explained to Dante that getting expelled from school was not a workable educational option. They explained to Dante that failing to graduate from high school would most probably be like a lead weight around his feet that could probably hurt his educational attainment for the rest of his adult life. What is more, Dante’s parents were very displeased that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his peers in the second.

His Mother and Father informed Dante that even though he may be a teen, he needs to comprehend fairly rapidly that drinking is the pathway to ill health, financial problems, pain, and failure.

It was apparent that his Mom and Dad were in total agreement with Dante’s principal and told Dante that he had better come to the realization that he needs to see Miss Johnson, the school therapist. After his discussion with his parents, Dante finally agreed to see Miss Johnson the next school day. So Dante phoned the school and made an appointment to see Miss Johnson the next afternoon.

The Therapist Asks Dante if He Understands Why His Recent Alcohol-Related Behavior Caused Quite a Bit of Anxiety By the School Administrators

When Dante arrived at his scheduled appointment with Miss Johnson, she promptly went over all of the alcohol-related issues Dante had experienced and asked him if he understood why his recent alcohol-related behavior caused quite a bit of concern by the school administrators.

Quite honestly, Dante was unsure why the principal explained to him that he had to see a school counselor. As he stated to Miss Johnson, why should he see a professional therapist about his drinking activities? Since almost all of his friends drink the same amount that he does, primarily, drinking is no big thing. Stated more directly, if just about everybody is drinking, why is this such a major problem?

Miss Johnson asked Dante when he started to drink alcoholic beverages. He said that some of his older classmates introduced him to drinking hard liquor when he was twelve or thirteen years old and getting ready to enter the seventh grade.

Miss Johnson told Dante that while his classmates 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 kicked out of school due to alcohol-related absenteeism, fighting, and delinquency, not his buddies. Moreover, Miss Johnson also underscored the fact that Dante, and not his buddies, is the one who is failing and who is missing at least two days of school every week because of his alcohol related issues. Finally, Miss Johnson underscored the fact that due to his drinking activities, Dante is getting into a negative cycle of abusive drinking that can eventually wreck his aspirations, hopes, and dreams.

In short, Dante’s involvement with teenage alcohol abuse was starting to foil his ability to conduct himself like an accountable young man. As pronounced by Miss Johnson, “Just because most of your pals drink wine, wine coolers, hard liquor, or beer does not mean that it is the healthiest thing in the world for you.”

Dante Learns That Sooner or Later He Must Claim Responsibility For Himself In Order to Prevent Damaging, Dangerous, Destructive, and Unhealthy Outcomes In the Future

Miss Johnson informed Dante that other individuals can undeniably influence a person in a negative way, but that the individual herself or himself has to in due course take responsibility for herself or himself in order to stay away from destructive, dangerous, damaging, and unhealthy effects in the foreseeable future.

Luckily, Miss Johnson was extremely well prepared for her appointment with Dante. She showed him reports and research studies she had highlighted that summarized diverse drinking statistics and facts that targeted most people in general. Then she showed Dante quite a lot of data that applied principally to teens.

For example, Miss Johnson highlighted the difference between alcohol abuse and alcoholism and explained to Dante that drinkers who continue to drink in an excessive manner commonly become alcoholic.

Miss Johnson also explained the concept of binge drinking that 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 States A Number Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Addiction Statistics and Facts

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

1. Alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction cost the United States an estimated 0 billion in 2005. This dollar amount was more than the cost correlated 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 who has or has had alcohol addiction.

3. More than three fourths of female victims of nonfatal, domestic violence reported that their assailant had been using drugs or drinking.

4. In the U.S. on a yearly basis, more than thirty-three percent of pedestrians killed by automobiles were legally intoxicated.

5. One national survey found that students are less likely to use alcohol if they are socially accepted by people at school and feel that teachers treat students fairly.

6. Research demonstrates that youth who drink alcohol may remember 10 percent less of what they have learned than adolescents who don’t drink.

7. Roughly 10% to 20% of the individuals who drink in a hazardous manner in due course develop cirrhosis of the liver (i.e., a scarring of the liver that can be fatal).

8. Up to forty percent of the U.S. industrial fatalities and 47% of industrial injuries are linked to alcoholism or alcohol abuse.

Dante Receives A Much Needed Primer on the Facts Concerning the Short Term and the Long Term Consequences of Youth Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Addiction

After Miss Johnson conveyed the aforementioned alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction statistics and facts, it was evident that what Miss Johnson revealed to Dante was a real jolt to him. Why? Because for the first time in his young life, someone not only made the effort to articulate the long term and the short term consequences of alcohol abuse and alcoholism, but she also made the effort to authenticate what she was saying with alcohol abuse and alcoholism statistics and facts that related to everyone in general, and principally to teens.

To be sure, it was almost as if a light went on and Dante immediately comprehended why he should not be engaging in abusive and hazardous drinking with or without his classmates anymore. 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 exam and an alcohol assessment for the alcohol abuse or alcohol addiction rehabilitation he would probably need.

Dante thought about this for few minutes and then agreed to get a thorough physical and to go through a thorough appraisal of his drinking behavior so that he could start an alcohol rehab program as soon as possible.

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