An Impulsive High School Student Exhibits More Than a Few Alcohol-Related Issues, Gets Thrown Out of School, Has to See the School Counselor, and Then Boosts His Personal Happiness and Self Esteem
Dante was a seventeen year old high school senior who was exhibiting quite a few alcohol-related issues 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 come back to class.
Later that afternoon when Dante went home after school, he had to go over his school situation with his parents. His Mom and Dad were “relatively traditional” and explained to Dante that getting suspended from school was not an acceptable educational game plan. They explained to Dante that failing to graduate from high school would probably be like a lead weight around his legs that could probably impede his educational achievement for the remainder of his adult life. In addition, Dante’s Mom and Dad were very dismayed that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his classmates in the second.
His Mother and Father informed Dante that even though he may be a teen, he needs to realize rather quickly that drinking is the route to pain, ill health, financial problems, and failure.
It was obvious that his parents were completely in concurrence with Dante’s principal and explained to Dante that he needs to see Miss Johnson, the school counselor. After his chat with his Mom and Dad, Dante finally agreed to see Miss Johnson the next day. So Dante phoned the school and scheduled an appointment to see Miss Johnson the next day during his first period class.
The Counselor Asks Dante if He Comprehends Why His Recent Alcohol-Related Activities Were Such a Cause For Concern By the School Administrators
When Dante arrived at his scheduled appointment with Miss Johnson, she at once analyzed all of the alcohol-related problems Dante had experienced and asked him if he knew why his recent alcohol-related behavior signaled such alarm.
Quite truthfully, Dante questioned why the principal explained to him that he had to see a school psychologist. As he stated to Miss Johnson, why should he see a professional psychologist about his drinking situation? Since almost all of his friends drink about as much as he does, for all intents and purposes, drinking is no big thing. Stated more directly, if just about everybody is drinking, why is this such a major concern?
Miss Johnson asked Dante when he started to drink. He said that some of his older buddies introduced him to drinking hard liquor 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 more than 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 absenteeism, fighting, and delinquency, not his buddies. Not only this but Miss Johnson also underscored the fact that Dante, and not his classmates, is the one who is failing and who is missing almost two days of school per week due to his alcohol related issues. Finally, Miss Johnson highlighted the fact that because of his drinking situation, Dante is getting into a harmful cycle of alcohol abuse that can ultimately wreck his hopes, dreams and aspirations.
In short, Dante’s involvement with teenage alcohol abuse was beginning to impede his ability to act like a responsible young man. As conveyed by Miss Johnson, “Just because most of your peers drink hard liquor, wine, wine coolers, or beer does not mean that it is the appropriate behavior for you.”
Dante Learns That In the Long Run He Must Be Responsible For Himself In Order to Avert Destructive, Damaging, Dangerous, and Unhealthy Situations In the Foreseeable Future
Miss Johnson informed Dante that other people can definitely influence a person in a negative way, but that the individual herself or himself has to at the end of the day take responsibility for herself or himself in order to steer clear of destructive, unhealthy, damaging, and dangerous circumstances in the future.
Luckily, Miss Johnson was very well equipped for her scheduled 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 a lot of information that applied particularly to teenagers.
For instance, Miss Johnson stressed the difference between alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse and informed Dante that people who continue to drink in an excessive manner more often than not become alcoholic.
Miss Johnson also articulated the concept of binge drinking which 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 Psychologist Presents More Than a Few Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Statistics and Facts
Then Miss Johnson verbalized various alcohol facts and the following eight alcohol abuse statistics:
1. According to one study, approximately 11% of 8th-graders, 22% of 10th-graders, and 27% of 12th-graders reported that they engaged in excessive drinking.
2. Between 48% and 64% of the individuals who die in fires have blood alcohol levels demonstrating inebriation.
3. Children who are drinking alcohol by 7th grade are more likely to display delinquent behavior, substance abuse, and academic problems in both high school and junior high school.
4. In the U.S., 33% of all suicides, 25% of all emergency room admissions, and more than 50% of all homicides and incidents of domestic violence are alcohol-related.
5. In the U.S. among drivers between the ages of 15 and 20, deadly accidents involving a single vehicle at night are three times more likely to be alcohol-related than to other deadly accidents.
6. In the U.S., more than 40 percent of the individuals who start drinking before the age of 13 will develop alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence at some time in their lives.
7. In the United States, by the time they are high school seniors, 80% of teens have used alcohol and 62% have been drunk.
8. Treatment for alcohol dependency has been shown to decrease criminal activity up to 80% among chronic offenders, has reduced their health care costs, decreased their homelessness, and increased their rate of employment.
Dante Receives An Important Primer on the Facts Regarding the Long Term and the Short Term Effects of Teenage Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Dependency
After Miss Johnson stated the aforementioned alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction statistics and facts, it was plain to see that what Miss Johnson taught Dante was a real surprise to 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 abuse and alcohol dependency, but she also made the effort to demonstrate what she was saying with alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency facts and statistics that related to people in general, and especially to adolescents.
Undeniably, it was almost as if a light went on and Dante promptly comprehended 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 information she discussed.
Miss Johnson then asked Dante how he felt about getting a physical examination and an alcohol evaluation for the alcohol rehabilitation he would probably need. Dante thought about this for a minute and then agreed to get a thorough physical and to go through a complete evaluation of his drinking circumstances so that he could start an alcohol abuse or alcohol addiction rehab program promptly. 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 personal happiness and self esteem had been augmented as he began to address his excessive and unhealthy drinking.
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Tags: alcohol treatment, alcoholism, conflict, enhancement, friendhsip, happiness, kids and teens, long term effects of alcohol, relationships, self improvement, self-esteem, teen alcohol abuse, teen alcohol abuse statistics, teenage alcohol abuse
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