Ambassador for Life

Dante was a fifteen year old high school sophomore who was exhibiting more than a few alcohol-related difficulties at school. As a result, the principal explained to him that he had to see Miss Johnson, the school counselor, 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 situation to his parents. His parents were “fairly old-fashioned” and told Dante that getting kicked out of school was not a doable educational plan of action. They explained to Dante that failing to graduate from high school would most probably be like a lead weight around his feet that may hinder his educational aspirations for the rest of his life. What is more, Dante’s Mom and Dad were extremely troubled that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his friends in the second.

His parents informed Dante that even though he may be a teen, he needs to comprehend without much delay that drinking is the pathway to failure, ill health, pain, and financial problems.

It was clear that his Mother and Father were absolutely in concurrence with Dante’s principal and informed Dante that he had better make plans to see Miss Johnson, the school therapist. After his conversation with his Mother and Father, Dante at last agreed to see Miss Johnson the next day. So Dante called the school and scheduled an appointment to see Miss Johnson the next morning before school.

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

When Dante went to see Miss Johnson, she without pause went over all of the alcohol-related problems Dante had gotten into and asked him if he knew why his recent alcohol-related actions gave the school administrators room for alarm.

Quite frankly, Dante was unsure why the principal informed him that he had to see a school counselor. As he expressed to Miss Johnson, why should he see a professional counselor about his drinking activities? In view of the fact that nearly all of his classmates drink about as much as he does, basically, drinking is no big thing. Stated more forcefully, if nearly everybody 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 friends introduced him to drinking wine coolers when he was twelve or thirteen years old and in the seventh grade.

Miss Johnson explained to Dante that while his pals may in fact drink as much as he does and that they may be a bad influence on him, the facts are that he is the one who is getting thrown out of school due to alcohol-related fighting, delinquency, and absenteeism, not his peers. Furthermore, Miss Johnson also highlighted the fact that Dante, and not his friends, is the one who is failing and who is missing almost two days of class every week due to his alcohol related difficulties. Lastly, Miss Johnson underscored the fact that because of his drinking activities, Dante is getting into a dangerous cycle of abusive drinking that can ultimately destroy his life.

In a word, Dante’s involvement with teenage alcohol abuse was starting to thwart his ability to behave like an accountable young man. As conveyed by Miss Johnson, “Just because most of your pals drink wine, hard liquor, beer, or wine coolers does not mean that it is the right thing to do for you.”

Dante Learns That Sooner or Later He Must Be Accountable For Himself In Order to Stay Away From Destructive, Unhealthy, Dangerous, and Damaging Consequences In the Foreseeable Future

Miss Johnson explained to Dante that others can undeniably influence an individual in an unhealthy manner, but that the person herself or himself has to at the end of the day take responsibility for himself or herself in order to avoid dangerous, damaging, unhealthy, and destructive outcomes in the future.

Luckily, Miss Johnson was very well equipped for her discussion with Dante. She showed him reports and research studies she had highlighted that summarized different drinking statistics and facts that targeted most people in general. Then she showed Dante a lot of figures and reports that applied mainly to teens.

As an illustration, Miss Johnson highlighted the difference between alcoholism and alcohol abuse and explained to Dante that people who continue to drink in an excessive manner frequently become addicted to alcohol.

Miss Johnson also went over the concept of binge drinking that she defined as follows: consuming five or more drinks in one sitting for males and drinking four or more drinks in one sitting for females.

The Therapist Lists Several Alcohol Addiction and Alcohol Abuse Facts and Statistics

Then Miss Johnson verbalized various alcohol facts and the following eight 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. because of intoxicated drivers and related diseases, injuries, or medical conditions.

2. Approximately one-fourth of all U.S. individuals who register in general hospitals have drinking problems or are undiagnosed individuals who are addicted to alcohol who are being treated for the results of their heavy drinking.

3. Alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse are the third leading cause of preventable deaths in the U.S..

4. More than 7 percent of the population that is 18 years old and older — around 13.8 million Americans — has drinking problems, including 8.1 million people who suffer from alcohol dependency.

5. 500,000 Americans who are addicted to alcohol are between the ages of 9 and 12.

6. As revealed by one U.S. study of 18 to 24 year-old current drinkers who failed to complete high school, approximately 60 percent started to drink before they were 16 years old.

7. Currently, almost 14 million Americans, 1 in every 13 adults, are alcoholic or abuse alcohol.

8. As demonstrated by the research literature, non-alcoholic members of alcoholic’s families use 10 times as much sick time as families who do not manifest alcohol abuse or alcohol dependency.

Dante Receives A Much Needed Wake Up Call Concerning the Long Term and the Short Term Outcomes of Teen Alcohol Addiction and Alcohol Abuse

After Miss Johnson presented the aforementioned alcohol abuse and alcoholism facts and statistics, it was plain to see that what Miss Johnson taught Dante was a real bombshell to him. Why? Because for the first time in his young life, someone not only made the effort to give an explanation of the long term and the short term consequences of alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse, but she also made the effort to substantiate what she was saying with alcoholism and alcohol abuse statistics and facts that related to everybody in general, and principally to adolescents.

Undeniably, it was almost as if a light went on and Dante without pause comprehended why he should not be engaging in excessive and abusive drinking with or without his peers any longer. Dante thanked Miss Johnson for her concern and for the material she reviewed.

Miss Johnson then asked Dante how he felt about getting a physical exam and an alcohol evaluation for the alcohol abuse or alcoholism rehabilitation he would probably need.

Dante thought about this for a minute and then agreed to get a comprehensive physical and to go through a comprehensive evaluation of his drinking situation so that he could start an alcohol rehab program in a reasonable time frame.