Dante was a seventeen year old high school senior who was manifesting quite a few alcohol-related problems at school. As a result, the principal told him that he had to see Miss Johnson, the school counselor, 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 suspension with his Mother and Father. His Mother and Father were “fairly conventional” and told Dante that getting discharged from school was not a satisfactory educational option. They explained to Dante that failing to graduate from high school would probably be like a lead weight around his legs that could conceivably hamper his educational attainment for the rest of his life. Furthermore, Dante’s Mom and Dad were quite saddened that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his classmates in the second.

His Mom and Dad told Dante that even though he may be an adolescent, he needs to realize fairly rapidly that drinking is the pathway to ill health, pain, failure, and financial problems.

It was evident that his Mom and Dad were completely in agreement with Dante’s principal and told Dante that he had better come to the understanding that he needs to see Miss Johnson, the school therapist. After his chat with his Mom and Dad, Dante in due course 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 first period class.

The Therapist Asks Dante if He Knows Why His Recent Alcohol-Related Actions Caused Quite a Bit of Concern By the School Administrators

When Dante went to see Miss Johnson, she instantaneously surveyed all of the alcohol-related issues Dante had experienced and asked him if he knew why his recent alcohol-related actions caused quite a bit of concern by the school administrators.

Quite truthfully, Dante was not sure why the principal informed him that he had to see a school therapist. As he expressed to Miss Johnson, why should he see a professional counselor about his drinking circumstances? Due to the fact that nearly all of his peers drink about as much as he does, drinking really shouldn’t be such a big issue. Stated differently, 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 classmates introduced him to drinking wine when he was twelve or thirteen years old and in the seventh grade.

Miss Johnson told Dante that while his friends may indeed drink as much as he does and that they may be a negative influence on him, the facts are that he is the one who is getting suspended from school due to alcohol-related delinquency, absenteeism, and fighting, not his classmates. What is more, Miss Johnson also emphasized the fact that Dante, and not his peers, is the one who is failing and who is missing at least one day of class every week because of his alcohol related problems. Lastly, Miss Johnson underlined the fact that due to his drinking activities, Dante is getting into a damaging cycle of abusive drinking that can in due course destroy his hopes, dreams and aspirations.

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

Dante Learns That In the End He Must Be Responsible For Himself In Order to Keep Away From Damaging, Unhealthy, Dangerous, and Destructive Circumstances In the Future

Miss Johnson told Dante that one’s classmates can indeed influence a person in a negative manner, but that the individual himself or herself has to in the long run take responsibility for herself or himself in order to steer clear of destructive, unhealthy, damaging, and dangerous situations in the future.

Fortunately, Miss Johnson was well equipped for her scheduled time with Dante. She showed him research studies and reports she had highlighted that summarized various drinking facts and statistics that applied to 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 alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse and informed Dante that people who continue to drink in a hazardous manner frequently become alcohol dependent.

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

The Psychologist Lists A Number Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Statistics and Facts

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

1. As revealed by the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, there are 105,000 yearly alcohol-related fatalities in the U.S. because of inebriated drivers and related medical conditions, injuries, or diseases.

2. Nearly one-fourth of all U.S. individuals who register in general hospitals have alcohol problems or are undiagnosed people who are alcohol dependent who are being treated for the consequences of their excessive drinking.

3. Alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse are the third leading cause of preventable deaths in the U.S..

4. More than seven percent of the population that is 18 years old and older — just about 13.8 million Americans — has drinking problems, including 8.1 million people who suffer from alcohol dependency.

5. 500,000 Americans who are dependent on alcohol are between the ages of 9 and 12.

6. As demonstrated by one U.S. research study of 18 to 24 year-old current drinkers who did not complete high school, around 60% began to drink before the age of 16.

7. Currently, almost 14 million Americans, 1 in every 13 adults, are dependent on alcohol or are alcohol abusers.

8. As demonstrated by the research literature, non-alcoholic members of alcoholic’s families use ten times as much sick leave as families who do not exhibit alcohol dependency or alcohol abuse.

Dante Gets An Important Wake Up Call About the Short Term and the Long Term Consequences of Youth Alcohol Addiction and Alcohol Abuse

After Miss Johnson listed the aforementioned alcohol abuse and alcoholism statistics and facts, it was clear 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 put in plain words the long term and the short term results of alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse, but she also made the effort to substantiate what she was saying with alcoholism and alcohol abuse statistics and facts that related to everyone, and especially to adolescents.

Indeed, it was almost as if a light went on and Dante instantly grasped why he should not be engaging in excessive and abusive drinking with or without his peers 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 examination and an alcohol appraisal for the alcohol abuse or alcohol addiction rehab he would probably need.

Dante thought about this for a minute and then agreed to get a comprehensive physical examination and to go through a comprehensive assessment of his drinking behavior so that he could start an alcohol abuse or alcohol dependency rehab program immediately.