Dante was a seventeen year old high school junior who was manifesting several 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 come back to class.

Later that day when Dante went home after school, he had to explain his school suspension to his Mother and Father. His Mom and Dad were “fairly old-fashioned” and informed Dante that getting discharged from school was not a viable educational plan of action. They told Dante that failing to graduate from high school would probably be like a lead weight around his feet that may impair his educational aspirations for the remainder of his life. Moreover, Dante’s Mom and Dad were quite displeased that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his peers in the second.

His parents informed Dante that even though he may be a teen, he needs to comprehend rather quickly that drinking is the path to pain, financial problems, failure, and ill health.

It was apparent that his Mother and Father were completely in agreement with Dante’s principal and explained to Dante that he had better make plans to see Miss Johnson, the school psychologist. After his discussion with his Mother and Father, Dante in the end agreed to see Miss Johnson the next day. So Dante called the school and made an appointment to see Miss Johnson the next day during his first period class.

The Psychologist Asks Dante if He Comprehends Why His Recent Alcohol-Related Actions Gave the School Administrators Room For Alarm

When Dante arrived at his scheduled appointment with Miss Johnson, she promptly went over all of the alcohol-related problems Dante had gotten into and asked him if he comprehended why his recent alcohol-related actions gave the school administrators room for alarm.

Quite truthfully, Dante questioned why the principal informed him that he had to see a school psychologist. As he stated to Miss Johnson, why should he see a professional counselor about his drinking activities? Due to the fact that just about all of his pals drink the same amount that he does, essentially, drinking is no big issue. Stated more precisely, 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 pals introduced him to drinking beer when he was twelve or thirteen years old and getting ready to enter junior high school.

Miss Johnson explained to Dante that while his peers may indeed drink more than he does and that they may be a bad influence on him, the facts are that he is the one who is getting thrown out of school due to alcohol-related absenteeism, fighting, and delinquency, not his pals. Furthermore, Miss Johnson also underlined the fact that Dante, and not his peers, is the one who is failing and who is missing at least one day of school per week due to his alcohol related difficulties. Lastly, Miss Johnson underscored the fact that because of his drinking behavior, Dante is getting into a destructive cycle of excessive drinking that can eventually wreck his life.

In short, Dante’s involvement with youth alcohol abuse was starting to thwart his ability to conduct himself like an accountable young man. As put into words by Miss Johnson, “Just because most of your peers drink hard liquor, beer, wine, or wine coolers 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 Keep Away From Damaging, Dangerous, Destructive, and Unhealthy Circumstances In the Future

Miss Johnson informed Dante that one’s classmates can certainly influence an individual in an unhealthy way, but that the individual herself or himself has to in due course take responsibility for himself or herself in order to stay away from destructive, unhealthy, dangerous, and damaging circumstances in the foreseeable future.

Luckily, Miss Johnson was extremely well equipped for her appointment with Dante. She showed him reports and research studies she had underlined that outlined diverse drinking facts and statistics that applied to most people in general. Then she showed Dante quite a bit of data that applied especially to teens.

For instance, Miss Johnson explained the difference between alcoholism and alcohol abuse and explained to Dante that people who continue to abuse alcohol regularly become addicted to alcohol.

Miss Johnson also went over the concept of binge drinking that 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 Therapist States Quite a Few Alcohol Addiction and Alcohol Abuse Facts and Statistics

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

1. As shown in one study, almost 11% of 8th-graders, 22% of 10th-graders, and 27% of 12th-graders reported that they engaged in binge drinking.

2. Between 48% and 64% of the people who perish in fires have blood alcohol levels indicating intoxication.

3. Pre-teens who are drinking alcohol by 7th grade are more likely to report academic problems, substance use, and delinquent behavior in both high school and junior high school.

4. In the U.S., more than 50% of all homicides and incidents of domestic violence are alcohol-related.

5. In the United States among drivers between the ages of 15 and 20, fatal accidents involving a single vehicle at night are three times more probable to be alcohol-related than to other deadly crashes.

6. In the U.S., more than 40 percent of the individuals who start drinking before the age of 13 will develop alcohol addiction or alcohol abuse at some point in their lives.

7. In the United States, by the time they are seniors in high school, 80% of teenagers have tried alcohol and 62% have been intoxicated.

8. Treatment for alcohol addiction has been demonstrated to reduce criminal activity up to 80% among long-term offenders, has reduced their health care costs, decreased their homelessness, and increased their rate of employment.

Dante Gets A Relevant Jolt of Reality Regarding the Long Term and the Short Term Outcomes of Youth Alcohol Addiction and Alcohol Abuse

After Miss Johnson presented the aforementioned alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction facts and statistics, it was obvious that what Miss Johnson disclosed to Dante was a real shock to him. Why? Because for the first time in his young life, someone not only took the time to explain the long term and the short term effects of alcoholism and alcohol abuse, but she also made the effort to corroborate what she was saying with alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency facts and statistics that related to everyone in general, and principally to young people.

As a matter of fact, it was almost as if a light went on and Dante instantaneously understood why he should not be engaging in hazardous and excessive drinking with or without his classmates 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 examination and an alcohol assessment 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 exam and to go through a comprehensive appraisal of his drinking circumstances so that he could start an alcohol abuse or alcohol addiction rehab program right away. After meeting with Miss Johnson, not only did he sense that he had established an enhanced relationship with her, but it was also obvious that Dante’s self esteem and self image had been enhanced as he began to address his careless and excessive drinking.