A Disturbed High School Student Exhibits More Than a Few Alcohol-Related Problems, Gets Thrown Out of School, and Has to See the School Counselor

Larry was a seventeen year old high school senior who was manifesting more than a few alcohol-related difficulties at school. As a result, the principal explained to 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 clarify his school expulsion to his Mom and Dad. His Mom and Dad were “fairly conventional” and informed Larry that getting kicked out of school was not a doable educational plan of action. They explained to Larry that failing to graduate from high school would likely be like a lead weight around his feet that may mar his educational attainment for the rest of his adult life. Furthermore, Larry’s Mother and Father were extremely distraught that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his peers in the second.

His Mom and Dad told Larry that although he may be a teen, he needs to comprehend fairly promptly that drinking is the pathway to failure, pain, ill health, and financial problems.

It was evident that his Mother and Father were out and out in full concurrence with Larry’s principal and told Larry that he needs to see Miss Johns, the school psychologist. After his discussion with his parents, Larry in the end agreed to see Miss Johns the next school day. So Larry phoned the school and scheduled an appointment to see Miss Johns the next morning before school.

The Psychologist Asks Larry if He Knows Why His Recent Alcohol-Related Behavior Caused Quite a Bit of Apprehension By the School Administrators

When Larry got to his scheduled appointment with Miss Johns, she promptly went over all of the alcohol-related issues Larry had gotten into and asked him if he understood why his recent alcohol-related actions signaled such alarm.

Quite truthfully, Larry wondered why the principal informed him that he had to see a school counselor. As he stated to Miss Johns, why should he see a professional therapist about his drinking activities? In view of the fact that nearly all of his friends drink the same amount that he does, in effect, drinking is no big thing. Stated another way, if almost everybody is drinking, why is this such a major issue?

Miss Johns asked Larry when he started to drink. 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 Johns told Larry that while his pals may in fact 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 thrown out of school due to alcohol-related absenteeism, fighting, and delinquency, not his classmates. In addition, Miss Johns also highlighted the fact that Larry, and not his buddies, is the one who is failing and who is missing at least one day of class per week due to his alcohol related difficulties. Lastly, Miss Johns underscored the fact that because of his drinking behavior, Larry is getting into a dangerous cycle of abusive drinking that can in due course destroy his dreams, hopes, and aspirations.

In a word, Larry’s involvement with teenage alcohol abuse was beginning to foil his ability to conduct himself like a responsible young man. As pronounced by Miss Johns, “Just because most of your pals drink wine coolers, hard liquor, beer, or wine does not mean that it is the healthiest thing for you.”

Larry Learns That In the End He Must Be Accountable For Himself In Order to Avoid Dangerous, Destructive, Unhealthy, and Damaging Outcomes In the Foreseeable Future

Miss Johns told Larry that others can undoubtedly influence an individual in an unhealthy way, but that the person herself or himself has to in the long run claim responsibility for herself or himself in order to prevent destructive, damaging, dangerous, and unhealthy effects down the road.

Fortunately, Miss Johns was quite organized for her scheduled meeting with Larry. She showed him research studies and reports she had highlighted that summarized diverse drinking statistics and facts that applied to most people in general. Then she showed Larry quite a bit of data that applied mainly to teenagers.

As an illustration, Miss Johns explained the difference between alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse and told Larry that drinkers who continue to drink in an excessive manner habitually become dependent on alcohol.

Miss Johns also articulated the concept of binge drinking which she defined as follows: ingesting five or more drinks in one sitting for males and consuming four or more drinks in one sitting for females.

The Therapist Lists Several Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse Facts and Statistics

Then Miss Johns conveyed the following eight alcoholism facts and alcohol abuse statistics:

1. The 25.9% of teen drinkers in the United States who are alcohol abusers and alcoholic drink 47.3% of the alcohol that is consumed by all teen drinkers.

2. Fifty percent of U.S. murders are related to alcohol.

3. In 2002, U.S. alcohol addiction facts and statistics demonstrated that 2.6 million binge drinkers were between the ages of 12 and 17.

4. It is projected that more than 3 million teens in the United States between the ages of 14 to 17 are alcoholic or alcohol abusers.

5. In the U.S., more than forty percent of those who begin drinking at the age 14 or younger become addicted to alcohol.

6. Relatively few of the more than 18 million U.S. alcohol abusers receive the alcohol rehabilitation they require.

7. Adolescent drinking costs Americans nearly $53 billion annually. If each congressional district shared this cost equally, the amount would total more than $120 million per district.

8. Alcohol-related problems are unevenly found among both adult and juvenile criminal offenders.

Larry Receives A Relevant Primer on the Facts About the Short Term and the Long Term Effects of Teen Alcohol Addiction and Alcohol Abuse

After Miss Johns went over the aforementioned alcohol dependency and alcohol abuse facts and statistics, it was evident that what Miss Johns revealed to Larry was a real shock to him. Why? Because for the first time in his young life, someone not only took the time to articulate the short term and the long term consequences of alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse, but she also took the time to substantiate what she was saying with alcoholism and alcohol abuse facts and statistics that related to everybody in general, and principally to teens.

Indeed, it was almost as if a light went on and Larry promptly realized why he should not be engaging in abusive and excessive drinking with or without his peers anymore. Larry thanked Miss Johns for her concern and for the information she reviewed.

Miss Johns then asked Larry how he felt about getting a physical examination and an alcohol evaluation for the alcohol abuse or alcohol addiction rehab he would probably need.

Larry thought about this for a minute and then agreed to get a thorough physical and to go through a comprehensive evaluation of his drinking behavior so that he could start an alcohol abuse or alcohol addiction treatment program in a realistic time frame.