An Erratic High School Student Displays Numerous Alcohol-Related Issues, Gets Removed From School, and Has to See the School Counselor
Posted on November 1, 2009
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Dante was a fifteen year old high school sophomore who was manifesting several alcohol-related difficulties at school. Consequently, the principal told him that he had to see Miss Johnson, the school therapist, before he would be allowed to come back to class.
Later that afternoon when Dante went home after school, he had to clarify his school discharge to his parents. His parents were “relatively old fashioned” and told Dante that dropping out of school was not a practical educational plan of action. They told Dante that failing to graduate from high school would more likely than not be like a lead weight around his feet that could quite possibly encumber his educational achievement for the rest of his life. What is more, Dante’s parents were extremely disappointed that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his friends in the second.
His Mother and Father informed Dante that even though he may be a teen, he needs to understand fairly promptly that drinking is the route to failure, pain, financial problems, and ill health.
It was obvious that his Mother and Father were absolutely in accord with Dante’s principal and told Dante that he had better come to the realization that he needs to see Miss Johnson, the school therapist. After his discussion with his Mother and Father, Dante in due course agreed to see Miss Johnson the next school day. So Dante phoned the school and made an appointment to see Miss Johnson the next day during his sixth period class.
The Psychologist Asks Dante if He Understands Why His Recent Alcohol-Related Behavior Caused Quite a Bit of Apprehension By the School Administrators
When Dante got to his scheduled appointment with Miss Johnson, she without pause reviewed all of the alcohol-related difficulties Dante had gotten into and asked him if he understood why his recent alcohol-related behavior was such a cause for concern.
Quite truthfully, Dante was not sure why the principal informed him that he had to see a school counselor. As he stated to Miss Johnson, why should he see a professional counselor about his drinking circumstances? Since virtually all of his buddies drink the same amount that he does, essentially, drinking shouldn’t be such a big deal. Stated more directly, if almost everybody is drinking, why is this such a major problem?
Miss Johnson asked Dante when he started to drink. He said that some of his older friends introduced him to drinking beer when he was twelve or thirteen years old and between the sixth and seventh grades.
Miss Johnson told Dante that while his friends may indeed 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 kicked out of school due to alcohol-related delinquency, absenteeism, and fighting, not his pals. Moreover, Miss Johnson also stressed the fact that Dante, and not his friends, is the one who is failing and who is missing one day of school every week due to his alcohol related difficulties. Lastly, Miss Johnson emphasized the fact that because of his drinking behavior, Dante is getting into a harmful cycle of hazardous drinking that can at the end of the day destroy his life.
In short, Dante’s involvement with youth alcohol abuse was beginning to short-circuit his ability to act like a responsible young man. As articulated by Miss Johnson, “Just because most of your buddies drink hard liquor, beer, wine, or wine coolers does not mean that it is the best thing to do for you.”
Dante Learns That Eventually He Must Claim Responsibility For Himself In Order to Avert Unhealthy, Dangerous, Damaging, and Destructive Outcomes Down the Road
Miss Johnson told Dante that one’s friends can certainly influence an individual in an unhealthy way, but that the person herself or himself has to ultimately be responsible for himself or herself in order to steer clear of dangerous, destructive, damaging, and unhealthy consequences down the road.
Luckily, Miss Johnson was well prepared for her scheduled appointment with Dante. She showed him reports and research studies she had underlined that listed various drinking facts and statistics that targeted most people in general. Then she showed Dante quite a bit of figures and reports that applied principally to adolescents.
For instance, Miss Johnson highlighted the difference between alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction and explained to Dante that drinkers who continue to drink excessively more often than not become dependent on alcohol.
Miss Johnson also articulated 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 Conveys More Than a Few Alcohol Addiction and Alcohol Abuse Facts and Statistics
Then Miss Johnson presented various alcohol facts and the following eight alcohol abuse statistics:
1. As shown in one study, around 11% of 8th-graders, 22% of 10th-graders, and 27% of 12th-graders articulated that they engaged in excessive drinking.
2. Between 48% and 64% of the people who pass away in fires have blood alcohol levels demonstrating drunkenness.
3. Pre-teens who are drinking alcohol by 7th grade are more probable to report academic problems, substance use, and delinquent behavior in both junior high school and 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 related to alcohol.
5. In the United States among drivers between the ages of 15 and 20, fatal crashes involving a single vehicle at night are three times more likely to be alcohol-related than to other fatal accidents.
6. In the United States, more than 40 percent of the people who start drinking before the age of 13 will develop alcohol abuse or alcohol dependency at some point in their lives.
7. In the U.S, by the time they are high school seniors, 80% of teenagers have drank alcohol and 62% have been inebriated.
8. Treatment for alcohol addiction has been shown to reduce criminal activity up to 80% among long-term offenders, has reduced their health care costs, decreased their homelessness, and increased their rate of employment.
Dante Receives A Meaningful Jolt of Reality Regarding the Short Term and the Long Term Effects of Teen Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Dependency
After Miss Johnson listed the aforementioned alcohol abuse and alcoholism facts and statistics, it was evident that what Miss Johnson taught Dante was a real source of revelation for 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 effects of alcohol dependency and alcohol abuse, but she also took the time to back up what she was saying with alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction statistics and facts that related to people in general, and especially to today’s youth.
Undeniably, it was almost as if a light went on and Dante without pause realized why he should not be engaging in excessive and hazardous drinking with or without his friends anymore. Dante thanked Miss Johnson for her concern and for the material she presented.
Miss Johnson then asked Dante how he felt about getting a physical examination and an alcohol evaluation for the alcohol abuse or alcohol addiction rehabilitation 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 complete assessment of his drinking condition so that he could start an alcohol abuse or alcohol addiction rehab program immediately.
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