Dante was a sixteen year old high school junior who was exhibiting quite a few alcohol-related difficulties at school. Therefore, the principal explained to him that he had to see Miss Johnson, the school psychologist, 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 conventional” and told Dante that getting suspended from school was not a practical educational plan of action. They informed Dante that failing to graduate from high school would likely be like a lead weight around his feet that could conceivably impair his educational aspirations for the remainder of his life. In addition, Dante’s Mom and Dad were very dismayed 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 teen, he needs to understand fairly promptly that drinking is the route to pain, ill health, failure, and financial problems.

It was clear that his parents were absolutely in agreement 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 talk with his Mom and Dad, Dante at long last agreed to see Miss Johnson the next school day. So Dante called the school and scheduled an appointment to see Miss Johnson the next day during his first period class.

The Therapist Asks Dante if He Understands Why His Recent Alcohol-Related Activities Caused Quite a Bit of Apprehension By the School Administrators

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

Quite frankly, Dante wondered why the principal suggested that he see a school therapist. As he expressed to Miss Johnson, why should he see a professional therapist about his drinking activities? In view of the fact that almost all of his peers drink about as much as he does, fundamentally, drinking shouldn’t be such a big deal. Stated differently, if almost everyone 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 classmates introduced him to drinking beer when he was twelve or thirteen years old and getting ready to enter junior high school.

Miss Johnson informed Dante that while his classmates 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 kicked out of school due to alcohol-related delinquency, absenteeism, and fighting, not his friends. What is more, Miss Johnson also emphasized the fact that Dante, and not his buddies, is the one who is failing and who is missing one day of school every week due to his alcohol related problems. Lastly, Miss Johnson highlighted the fact that because of his drinking situation, Dante is getting into a damaging cycle of alcohol abuse that can finally destroy his hopes, dreams and aspirations.

In short, Dante’s involvement with teenage alcohol abuse was starting to short-circuit his ability to conduct himself like a responsible young man. As verbalized by Miss Johnson, “Just because most of your classmates drink wine coolers, beer, hard liquor, or wine does not mean that it is the best thing in the world for you.”

Dante Learns That Ultimately He Must Be Accountable For Himself In Order to Avoid Dangerous, Damaging, Unhealthy, and Destructive Situations In the Future

Miss Johnson informed Dante that one’s buddies can undeniably influence a person in a negative manner, but that the individual herself or himself has to in the end be responsible for himself or herself in order to keep away from damaging, unhealthy, destructive, and dangerous circumstances in the foreseeable future.

Luckily, Miss Johnson was quite organized for her meeting with Dante. She showed him reports and research studies she had highlighted that summarized diverse drinking statistics and facts that targeted most people in general. Then she showed Dante a lot of information that applied particularly to teens.

For example, 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 dependent on alcohol.

Miss Johnson also discussed 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 Psychologist Articulates Numerous Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Dependency Statistics and Facts

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

1. According to 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 individuals who pass away in fires have blood alcohol levels indicating intoxication.

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

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

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

6. In the United States, more than 40 percent of the individuals who start drinking before the age of 13 will develop alcohol abuse or alcoholism at some time in their lives.

7. In the U.S, by the time they are high school seniors, 80% of teens have tried alcohol and 62% have been intoxicated.

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

Dante Receives A Meaningful Jolt of Reality About the Short Term and the Long Term Results of Teenage Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

After Miss Johnson stated the aforementioned alcohol dependency and alcohol abuse facts and statistics, it was evident that what Miss Johnson revealed to Dante was a real shock to him. Why? Because for the first time in his young life, someone not only made the effort to put in plain words the short term and the long term outcomes of alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction, but she also made the effort to support what she was saying with alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse facts and statistics that related to everyone in general, and principally to today’s youth.

In actual 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 pals anymore. Dante thanked Miss Johnson for her concern and for the material 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 treatment he would probably need.

Dante thought about this for few minutes and then agreed to get a thorough physical examination and to go through a thorough assessment of his drinking circumstances so that he could start an alcohol abuse or alcohol dependency treatment program promptly.