Dante was a sixteen year old high school sophomore who was displaying a number of alcohol-related difficulties at school. As a result, the principal informed him that he had to see Miss Johnson, the school psychologist, before he would be permitted to return to school.

Later that afternoon when Dante went home after school, he had to clarify his school suspension to his parents. His parents were “relatively old-style” and explained to Dante that getting kicked out of school was not a feasible educational plan of action. They explained to Dante that failing to graduate from high school would likely be like a lead weight around his ankles that may impair his educational attainment for the rest of his life. In addition, Dante’s Mom and Dad were quite distraught that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his friends in the second.

They informed Dante that although he may be a teenager, he has to comprehend without much delay that drinking is the road to failure, financial problems, ill health, and pain.

It was clear that his Mother and Father were in total concurrence with Dante’s principal and told Dante that he had better come to the understanding that he needs to see Miss Johnson, the school psychologist. After his conversation with his Mom and Dad, Dante at long last agreed to see Miss Johnson the next school day. So Dante phoned the school and made an appointment to see Miss Johnson the next afternoon.

The Psychologist Asks Dante if He Understands Why His Recent Alcohol-Related Behavior Made the School Administrators Uneasy

When Dante went to see Miss Johnson, she at once analyzed all of the alcohol-related problems Dante had experienced and asked him if he comprehended why his recent alcohol-related actions caused quite a bit of apprehension by the school administrators.

Quite honestly, Dante questioned why the principal suggested that he see a school psychologist. As he expressed to Miss Johnson, why should he see a professional psychologist about his drinking behavior? Because nearly all of his buddies drink as much if not more than he does, for all intents and purposes, drinking is no big thing. Stated differently, if nearly everybody is drinking, why is this such a major concern?

Miss Johnson asked Dante when he started to drink alcoholic beverages. He said that some of his older buddies introduced him to drinking wine coolers when he was twelve or thirteen years old and between the sixth and seventh grades.

Miss Johnson told Dante that while his pals may in fact 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 removed from school due to alcohol-related absenteeism, fighting, and delinquency, not his peers. What is more, 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 issues. Lastly, Miss Johnson highlighted the fact that because of his drinking circumstances, Dante is getting into a negative cycle of abusive drinking that can in the end ruin his dreams, hopes, and aspirations.

In a word, Dante’s involvement with youth alcohol abuse was beginning to thwart his ability to behave like a responsible young man. As put into words by Miss Johnson, “Just because most of your pals drink wine, hard liquor, wine coolers, or beer does not mean that it is the healthiest thing in the world for you.”

Dante Learns That In the Long Run He Must Take Responsibility For Himself In Order to Prevent Dangerous, Unhealthy, Destructive, and Damaging Situations In the Foreseeable Future

Miss Johnson informed Dante that other people can without a doubt influence a person in an unhealthy way, but that the individual herself or himself has to in time be responsible for himself or herself in order to stay away from unhealthy, damaging, dangerous, and destructive consequences in the future.

Fortunately, Miss Johnson was well equipped for her discussion with Dante. She showed him research studies and reports she had underlined that summarized various drinking statistics and facts that targeted most people in general. Then she showed Dante quite a bit of information that applied particularly to underage drinkers.

For example, Miss Johnson underscored the difference between alcohol abuse and alcoholism and explained to Dante that drinkers who continue to drink abusively more often than not become alcohol dependent.

Miss Johnson also articulated 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 Psychologist Conveys Quite a Few Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Addiction Statistics and Facts

Then Miss Johnson conveyed 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 stated that they involved themselves in hazardous drinking.

2. Between 48% and 64% of the people who pass away in fires have blood alcohol levels showing intoxication.

3. Children who are drinking alcohol by 7th grade are more probable to report substance abuse, delinquent behavior, and academic problems in both junior high school and high school.

4. In the U.S., 25% of all emergency room admissions, 33% of all suicides, and more than 50% of all homicides and incidents of domestic violence are related to alcohol.

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 likely to be alcohol-related than to other deadly crashes.

6. In the U.S., more than 40 percent of the people 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 teens have drank alcohol and 62% have been inebriated.

8. Treatment for alcoholism has been shown to reduce criminal activity up to 80% among chronic offenders, has increased their rate of employment, decreased their homelessness, and reduced their health care costs.

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

After Miss Johnson went over the aforementioned alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse statistics and facts, it was plain to see that what Miss Johnson taught Dante was a real jolt to 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 effects of alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction, but she also made the effort to demonstrate what she was saying with alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction facts and statistics that related to everyone in general, and mainly to adolescents.

To be sure, 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 anymore. 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 alcoholism rehab he would probably need.

Dante thought about this for few minutes and then agreed to get a thorough physical examination and to go through an extensive evaluation of his drinking circumstances so that he could start an alcohol treatment program without pause.