Larry was a seventeen year old high school junior who was displaying several alcohol-related problems at school. As a result, the principal informed him that he had to see Miss Johns, the school psychologist, before he would be permitted to come back to class.
Later that day when Larry went home after school, he had to go over his school discharge with his Mother and Father. His Mom and Dad were “old school” and explained to Larry that getting suspended from school was not a satisfactory educational game plan. They informed Larry that failing to graduate from high school would likely be like a lead weight around his legs that could quite possibly impede his educational attainment for the rest of his life. Furthermore, Larry’s parents were extremely unhappy that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his pals in the second.
His parents informed Larry that even though he may be young, he needs to comprehend fairly promptly that drinking is the path to ill health, financial problems, failure, and pain.
It was clear that his Mother and Father were out and out in full concurrence with Larry’s principal and informed Larry that he had better make up his mind to see Miss Johns, the school therapist. After his discussion with his parents, Larry at long last agreed to see Miss Johns the next school day. So Larry phoned the school and scheduled an appointment to see Miss Johns the next afternoon.
The Counselor Asks Larry if He Comprehends Why His Recent Alcohol-Related Actions Caused Quite a Bit of Concern By the School Administrators
When Larry arrived at his scheduled appointment with Miss Johns, she instantaneously reviewed all of the alcohol-related issues Larry had gotten into and asked him if he knew why his recent alcohol-related behavior was such a cause for concern.
Quite sincerely, Larry questioned why the principal suggested that he see a school psychologist. As he expressed to Miss Johns, why should he see a professional therapist about his drinking circumstances? In view of the fact that virtually all of his peers drink the same amount that he does, fundamentally, drinking is no big thing. Stated more explicitly, if almost everybody is drinking, why is this such a major concern?
Miss Johns asked Larry when he started to drink. He said that some of his older classmates introduced him to drinking wine coolers when he was twelve or thirteen years old and between the sixth and seventh grades.
Miss Johns explained to Larry that while his classmates may indeed drink more than he does and that they may be an unhealthy 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 pals. Not only this but Miss Johns also highlighted the fact that Larry, and not his classmates, is the one who is failing and who is missing at least one day of class every week because of his alcohol related issues. Finally, Miss Johns underscored the fact that due to his drinking situation, Larry is getting into a destructive cycle of alcohol abuse that can sooner or later destroy his aspirations, hopes, and dreams.
In short, Larry’s involvement with youth alcohol abuse was beginning to thwart his ability to act like an accountable young man. As stated by Miss Johns, “Just because most of your buddies drink wine, beer, wine coolers, or hard liquor does not mean that it is the best thing to do for you.”
Larry Learns That Ultimately He Must Be Accountable For Himself In Order to Stay Away From Destructive, Unhealthy, Dangerous, and Damaging Situations Down the Road
Miss Johns informed Larry that one’s peers can undoubtedly influence an individual in a negative manner, but that the individual herself or himself has to in the long run be accountable for herself or himself in order to stay away from unhealthy, dangerous, destructive, and damaging circumstances in the foreseeable future.
Fortunately, Miss Johns was very organized for her conference with Larry. 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 Larry quite a lot of data that applied mainly to teenagers.
For instance, Miss Johns emphasized the difference between alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction and informed Larry that people who continue to drink excessively habitually become alcohol dependent.
Miss Johns also discussed the concept of binge drinking which 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 Counselor States Numerous Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse Statistics and Facts
Then Miss Johns presented the following eight alcoholism facts and alcohol abuse statistics:
1. According to the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, there are 105,000 yearly alcohol-related deaths in the U.S. due to drunk drivers and related diseases, medical conditions, or injuries.
2. Approximately twenty-five percent of all U.S. people who are admitted to general hospitals have drinking problems or are undiagnosed individuals who are alcohol dependent who are being treated for the outcomes of their excessive drinking.
3. Alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse are the third leading cause of preventable deaths in the U.S..
4. More than 7% of the population that is 18 years old and older — roughly 13.8 million Americans — has drinking problems, including 8.1 million people who suffer from alcohol addiction.
5. 500,000 Americans who are alcoholics are between the ages of 9 and 12.
6. As demonstrated by one U.S. research study of 18 to 24 year-old current drinkers who did not complete high school, just about sixty percent began to drink before they were sixteen years old.
7. Currently, just about 14 million Americans, 1 in every 13 adults, are alcoholic or abuse alcohol.
8. According to the research literature, non-alcoholic members of alcoholic’s families use 10 times as much sick time as families who do not manifest alcohol dependency or alcohol abuse.
Larry Receives A Meaningful Wake Up Call Concerning the Short Term and the Long Term Consequences of Adolescent Alcohol Dependency and Alcohol Abuse
After Miss Johns conveyed the aforementioned alcohol dependency and alcohol abuse statistics and facts, it was plain to see that what Miss Johns revealed to Larry was a real jolt to him. Why? Because for the first time in his young life, someone not only took the time to go over the long term and the short term outcomes of alcohol abuse and alcoholism, but she also took the time to substantiate what she was saying with alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction statistics and facts that related to everyone, and particularly to underage drinkers.
Undeniably, it was almost as if a light went on and Larry at once grasped why he should not be engaging in hazardous and abusive drinking with or without his buddies anymore. Larry thanked Miss Johns for her concern and for the information she presented.
Miss Johns then asked Larry how he felt about getting a physical exam and an alcohol assessment for the alcohol abuse or alcohol dependency rehabilitation he would probably need.
Larry thought about this for few minutes and then agreed to get an extensive physical exam and to go through a complete evaluation of his drinking condition so that he could start an alcohol abuse or alcoholism treatment program in a realistic time frame.
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