Dante was a seventeen year old high school senior who was exhibiting more than a few alcohol-related problems at school. Consequently, the principal told him that he had to see Miss Johnson, the school counselor, before he would be allowed to return to class.

Later that afternoon when Dante went home after school, he had to clarify his school situation to his parents. His parents were “relatively traditional” and told Dante that getting thrown out of school was not an acceptable educational game plan. They explained to Dante that failing to graduate from high school would likely be like a lead weight around his legs that could probably impede his educational aspirations for the remainder of his adult life. What is more, Dante’s parents were very dissatisfied that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his friends in the second.

They told Dante that although he may be a teen, he has to understand fairly promptly that drinking is the pathway to financial problems, failure, pain, and ill health.

It was plain to see that his Mother and Father were out and out in full accord with Dante’s principal and informed Dante that he had better come to the realization that he needs to see Miss Johnson, the school psychologist. After his conversation with his Mom and Dad, Dante finally agreed to see Miss Johnson the next day. So Dante called the school and scheduled an appointment to see Miss Johnson the next day during his fifth period class.

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

When Dante went to see Miss Johnson, she instantly examined all of the alcohol-related difficulties Dante had gotten into and asked him if he comprehended why his recent alcohol-related activities were such a cause for concern.

Quite frankly, Dante wondered why the principal told him he had to see a school counselor. As he stated to Miss Johnson, why should he see a professional therapist about his drinking behavior? Since virtually all of his classmates drink as much if not more than he does, basically, drinking is no big issue. Stated more forcefully, if almost 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 wine coolers when he was twelve or thirteen years old and in the seventh grade.

Miss Johnson explained to Dante that while his pals may in fact 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 thrown out of school due to alcohol-related fighting, delinquency, and absenteeism, not his classmates. What is more, Miss Johnson also emphasized the fact that Dante, and not his buddies, is the one who is failing and who is missing almost two days of class every week due to his alcohol related problems. Lastly, Miss Johnson emphasized the fact that because of his drinking circumstances, Dante is getting into a dangerous cycle of hazardous drinking that can ultimately destroy his aspirations, hopes, and dreams.

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

Dante Learns That In Due Course He Must Be Responsible For Himself In Order to Prevent Dangerous, Unhealthy, Destructive, and Damaging Outcomes In the Foreseeable Future

Miss Johnson explained to Dante that one’s peers can indeed influence an individual in a negative way, but that the individual himself or herself has to in the end claim responsibility for herself or himself in order to stay away from dangerous, unhealthy, destructive, and damaging consequences in the foreseeable future.

Fortunately, Miss Johnson was very well prepared for her scheduled appointment with Dante. She showed him research studies and reports she had underlined that listed different drinking statistics and facts that targeted most people in general. Then she showed Dante a lot of figures and reports that applied principally to adolescents.

As an illustration, Miss Johnson emphasized the difference between alcoholism and alcohol abuse and told Dante that individuals who continue to drink in an abusive manner habitually become addicted to alcohol.

Miss Johnson also articulated 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 States Several Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Statistics and Facts

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

1. Alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence cost the U.S. 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 addiction.

3. More than seventy-five percent of female victims of nonfatal, domestic violence claimed that their assailant had been using drugs or drinking.

4. In the U.S. on an annual basis, more than 33% of pedestrians killed by motor vehicles were legally drunk.

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

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

7. About 10% to 20% of the people who drink in an excessive manner sooner or later 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% of industrial injuries are associated with alcohol abuse or alcohol dependency.

Dante Gets A Meaningful Jolt of Reality About the Short Term and the Long Term Results of Underage Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

After Miss Johnson presented the aforementioned alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency statistics and facts, it was apparent that what Miss Johnson taught 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 results of alcohol dependency and alcohol abuse, but she also made the effort to confirm what she was saying with alcohol dependency and alcohol abuse statistics and facts that related to everyone in general, and mainly to teens.

Without a doubt, it was almost as if a light went on and Dante promptly comprehended why he should not be engaging in hazardous and excessive drinking with or without his friends any longer. Dante thanked Miss Johnson for her concern and for the material 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 rehab 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 comprehensive assessment of his drinking circumstances so that he could start an alcohol rehab program promptly.

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