Larry was a seventeen year old high school junior who was exhibiting numerous alcohol-related issues at school. As a result, the principal explained to him that he had to see Miss Johns, the school counselor, before he would be permitted to return to class.
Later that afternoon when Larry went home after school, he had to explain his school situation to his Mother and Father. His Mom and Dad were “fairly old-fashioned” and informed Larry that getting suspended from school was not a doable educational option. They told Larry that failing to graduate from high school would likely be like a lead weight around his feet that may inhibit his educational aspirations for the rest of his life. Not only this, but Larry’s Mom and Dad were extremely letdown that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his classmates in the second.
His parents explained to Larry that even though he may be a teen, he needs to realize rather quickly that drinking is the path to pain, financial problems, ill health, and failure.
It was evident that his parents were out and out in full accord with Larry’s principal and informed Larry that he had better make up his mind to see Miss Johns, the school therapist. After his chat with his parents, Larry in due course agreed to see Miss Johns the next school day. So Larry called the school and made an appointment to see Miss Johns the next afternoon.
The Counselor Asks Larry if He Comprehends Why His Recent Alcohol-Related Activities Signaled Such Alarm By the School Administrators
When Larry arrived at his scheduled appointment with Miss Johns, she at once analyzed all of the alcohol-related difficulties Larry had experienced and asked him if he knew why his recent alcohol-related behavior was such a cause for concern.
Quite truthfully, Larry was not sure why the principal suggested that he see a school counselor. As he stated to Miss Johns, why should he see a professional psychologist about his drinking activities? In view of the fact that virtually all of his buddies drink the same amount that he does, basically, drinking is no big issue. Stated more precisely, if just about everybody is drinking, why is this such a big thing?
Miss Johns asked Larry when he started to drink alcoholic beverages. He said that some of his older pals introduced him to drinking wine coolers when he was twelve or thirteen years old and getting ready to enter the seventh grade.
Miss Johns told Larry that while his peers may indeed drink as much as he does and that they may be an unhealthy influence on him, the facts are that he is the one who is getting expelled from school due to alcohol-related fighting, delinquency, and absenteeism, not his pals. Moreover, Miss Johns also emphasized the fact that Larry, and not his classmates, is the one who is failing and who is missing almost two days of class per week due to his alcohol related problems. Finally, Miss Johns stressed the fact that due to his drinking behavior, Larry is getting into a harmful cycle of excessive drinking that can at the end of the day wreck his aspirations, hopes, and dreams.
In a word, Larry’s involvement with adolescent alcohol abuse was starting to foil his ability to function as a responsible young man. As verbalized by Miss Johns, “Just because most of your peers drink hard liquor, beer, wine coolers, or wine does not mean that it is the correct behavior for you.”
Larry Learns That In the End He Must Be Responsible For Himself In Order to Steer Clear of Destructive, Damaging, Dangerous, and Unhealthy Consequences Down the Road
Miss Johns told Larry that one’s pals can indeed influence an individual in a negative way, but that the person herself or himself has to eventually take responsibility for himself or herself in order to prevent destructive, unhealthy, dangerous, and damaging consequences down the road.
Fortunately, Miss Johns was extremely well prepared for her scheduled time with Larry. She showed him research studies and reports she had highlighted that listed different drinking facts and statistics that targeted most people in general. Then she showed Larry quite a lot of data that applied especially to teenagers.
For example, Miss Johns underscored the difference between alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse and explained to Larry that individuals who continue to drink in an excessive manner commonly become alcohol dependent.
Miss Johns also went over the concept of binge drinking which she defined as follows: ingesting four or more drinks in one sitting for females and drinking four or more drinks in one sitting for females.
The Counselor States A Number Alcohol Dependency and Alcohol Abuse Statistics and Facts
Then Miss Johns articulated the following eight alcoholism facts and alcohol abuse statistics:
1. Alcoholism and alcohol abuse cost the U.S. an estimated $220 billion in 2005. This dollar amount was more than the cost correlated with obesity ($133 billion) or with cancer ($196 billion).
2. More than one-half of American adults have a close family member or relative that has or has had alcohol dependency.
3. More than seventy-five percent of female victims of nonfatal, domestic violence claimed that their assailant had been using drugs or drinking.
4. In the United States on an annual basis, more than one third of pedestrians killed by automobiles were legally intoxicated.
5. One national study found that students are less likely to use alcohol if they are socially accepted by others at school and feel that teachers treat students fairly.
6. Research shows that teenagers who use alcohol may remember 10 percent less of what they have learned than adolescents who don’t drink.
7. Roughly 10% to 20% of the individuals who drink excessively at the end of the day develop cirrhosis of the liver (i.e., a scarring of the liver that can be fatal).
8. Up to 40% of the U.S. industrial deaths and forty-seven percent of industrial injuries are correlated with alcoholism or alcohol abuse.
Larry Receives An Important Primer on the Facts About the Long Term and the Short Term Outcomes of Adolescent Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse
After Miss Johns stated the aforementioned alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction statistics and facts, it was clear that what Miss Johns made known to Larry was a real source of discovery for him. Why? Because for the first time in his young life, someone not only made the effort to explain the long term and the short term results of alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse, but she also made the effort to demonstrate what she was saying with alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency statistics and facts that related to people in general, and mainly to adolescents.
Certainly, it was almost as if a light went on and Larry instantaneously grasped why he should not be engaging in abusive and excessive drinking with or without his friends anymore. Larry thanked Miss Johns for her concern and for the information she discussed.
Miss Johns then asked Larry how he felt about getting a physical exam and an alcohol assessment for the alcohol abuse or alcohol addiction treatment he would probably need.
Larry thought about this for a minute and then agreed to get a comprehensive physical and to go through a thorough appraisal of his drinking behavior so that he could start an alcohol abuse or alcoholism rehabilitation program in a reasonable time frame.