Dante was a fifteen year old high school sophomore who was manifesting quite a few alcohol-related difficulties at school. As a result, the principal told him that he had to see Miss Johnson, the school psychologist, 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 Mother and Father. His parents were “fairly old-fashioned” and informed Dante that getting expelled from school was not a tolerable educational plan of action. They told Dante that failing to graduate from high school would more likely than not be like a lead weight around his legs that might impede his educational achievement for the remainder of his life. In addition, Dante’s Mother and Father were very saddened that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his peers in the second.

His Mom and Dad explained to Dante that although he may be young, he has to understand without much delay that drinking is the pathway to ill health, pain, financial problems, and failure.

It was obvious that his Mother and Father were in total concurrence with Dante’s principal and informed Dante that he had better come to the realization that he needs to see Miss Johnson, the school therapist. After his chat with his Mom and Dad, Dante at long last agreed to see Miss Johnson the next day. So Dante phoned the school and scheduled an appointment to see Miss Johnson the next afternoon.

The Therapist Asks Dante if He Comprehends Why His Recent Alcohol-Related Activities Signaled Such Alarm By the School Administrators

When Dante arrived at his scheduled appointment with Miss Johnson, she without pause went over all of the alcohol-related difficulties Dante had gotten into and asked him if he understood why his recent alcohol-related behavior was such a cause for concern.

Quite honestly, Dante wondered why the principal told him he had to see a school therapist. As he expressed to Miss Johnson, why should he see a professional therapist about his drinking behavior? Because almost all of his friends drink the same amount that he does, fundamentally, drinking shouldn’t be such a big deal. Stated more directly, if almost everybody is drinking, why is this such a big thing?

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

Miss Johnson informed Dante that while his pals may in fact 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 discharged from school due to alcohol-related delinquency, absenteeism, and fighting, not his pals. What is more, Miss Johnson also stressed the fact that Dante, and not his buddies, is the one who is failing and who is missing at least two days of school per week due to his alcohol related issues. Finally, Miss Johnson emphasized the fact that due to his drinking behavior, Dante is getting into a destructive cycle of abusive drinking that can ultimately ruin his life.

In short, Dante’s involvement with youth alcohol abuse was beginning to thwart his ability to function as a responsible young man. As verbalized by Miss Johnson, “Just because most of your friends drink wine coolers, wine, beer, or hard liquor does not mean that it is the best thing in the world for you.”

Dante Learns That Eventually He Must Be Responsible For Himself In Order to Stay Away From Damaging, Unhealthy, Destructive, and Dangerous Situations In the Foreseeable Future

Miss Johnson informed Dante that one’s buddies can undoubtedly influence a person in a negative manner, but that the individual himself or herself has to in the long run claim responsibility for himself or herself in order to steer clear of unhealthy, damaging, destructive, and dangerous effects in the future.

Fortunately, Miss Johnson was extremely well equipped for her appointment with Dante. She showed him reports and research studies she had highlighted that outlined different drinking statistics and facts that targeted most people in general. Then she showed Dante a lot of information that applied especially to teenagers.

As an illustration, Miss Johnson explained the difference between alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse and informed Dante that people who continue to drink excessively regularly become alcoholic.

Miss Johnson also discussed the concept of binge drinking that 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 Therapist Lists More Than a Few Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse Facts and Statistics

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

1. As demonstrated by the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, there are 105,000 annual alcohol-related deaths in the U.S. due to inebriated drivers and related diseases, injuries, or medical conditions.

2. About one-fourth of all U.S. people who register in general hospitals have alcohol-related problems or are undiagnosed individuals who are addicted to alcohol who are being treated for the consequences of their hazardous drinking.

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

4. More than 7% of the population that is 18 years old and older — around 13.8 million Americans — has drinking problems, including 8.1 million individuals who suffer from alcohol dependency.

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

6. As revealed by one U.S. survey of 18 to 24 year-old current drinkers who did not graduate from high school, just about 60 percent started to drink before the age of 16.

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

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

Dante Gets A Relevant Wake Up Call About the Long Term and the Short Term Results of Underage Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse

After Miss Johnson articulated the aforementioned alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction facts and statistics, it was plain to see that what Miss Johnson revealed to Dante was a real eye opener for him. Why? Because for the first time in his young life, someone not only took the time to articulate the long term and the short term results of alcohol dependency and alcohol abuse, but she also took the time to back up what she was saying with alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction statistics and facts that related to people in general, and chiefly to teens.

Without a doubt, it was almost as if a light went on and Dante without pause understood why he should not be engaging in hazardous and abusive drinking with or without his buddies any longer. Dante thanked Miss Johnson for her concern and for the information she went over.

Miss Johnson then asked Dante how he felt about getting a physical examination and an alcohol appraisal for the alcohol abuse or alcohol dependency rehab he would probably need.

Dante thought about this for few minutes and then agreed to get a comprehensive physical and to go through a comprehensive appraisal of his drinking condition so that he could start an alcohol abuse or alcohol dependency treatment program as reasonable as possible.