Larry was a sixteen year old high school sophomore who was displaying more than a few alcohol-related difficulties at school.  As a result, the principal told him that he had to see Miss Johns, the school therapist, before he would be allowed 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 Mother and Father were “fairly conservative” and informed Larry that getting thrown out of school was not a practical educational game plan.  They told Larry that failing to graduate from high school would probably be like a lead weight around his ankles that might encumber his educational aspirations for the remainder of his adult life.  Furthermore, Larry’s Mother and Father were very distraught that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his friends in the second.

They informed Larry that even though he may be an adolescent, he needs to understand fairly rapidly that drinking is the path to ill health, pain, failure, and financial problems.

It was clear that his Mother and Father were completely in agreement with Larry’s principal and told Larry that he had better make up his mind to see Miss Johns, the school psychologist. After his talk with his Mother and Father, Larry at long last agreed to see Miss Johns the next day.  So Larry phoned the school and made an appointment to see Miss Johns the next day during his third period class.

The Counselor Asks Larry if He Comprehends Why His Recent Alcohol-Related Actions Signaled Such Alarm By the School Administrators

When Larry arrived at his scheduled appointment with Miss Johns, she instantaneously examined all of the alcohol-related problems Larry had experienced and asked him if he understood why his recent alcohol-related behavior signaled such alarm.

Quite candidly, Larry wondered why the principal explained to him that he had to see a school therapist.  As he expressed to Miss Johns, why should he see a professional psychologist about his drinking circumstances?  Because almost all of his buddies drink as much if not more than he does, basically, drinking shouldn’t be such a big issue.  Stated differently, if just about 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 friends introduced him to drinking wine coolers when he was twelve or thirteen years old and between the sixth and seventh grades.

Miss Johns informed Larry that while his friends 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 discharged from school due to alcohol-related fighting, delinquency, and absenteeism, not his peers.  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 two days of class every week because of his alcohol related difficulties.  Lastly, Miss Johns emphasized the fact that due to his drinking situation, Larry is getting into a dangerous cycle of abusive drinking that can ultimately destroy his dreams, hopes, and aspirations.

In short, Larry’s involvement with teenage alcohol abuse was starting to foil his ability to behave like a responsible young man.  As articulated by Miss Johns, “Just because most of your peers drink hard liquor, wine coolers, beer, or wine does not mean that it is the appropriate behavior for you.”

Larry Learns That In the Long Run He Must Take Responsibility For Himself In Order to Avoid Damaging, Unhealthy, Destructive, and Dangerous Outcomes Down the Road

Miss Johns explained to Larry that one’s friends can definitely influence an individual in a negative manner, but that the individual herself or himself has to at the end of the day claim responsibility for herself or himself in order to steer clear of dangerous, destructive, unhealthy, and damaging consequences down the road.

Fortunately, Miss Johns was very well prepared for her scheduled appointment with Larry.  She showed him research studies and reports she had highlighted that outlined different drinking facts and statistics that applied to most people in general.  Then she showed Larry quite a lot of figures and reports that applied especially to adolescents.

As an illustration, Miss Johns explained the difference between alcohol abuse and alcoholism and explained to Larry that individuals who continue to drink in an excessive manner commonly 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 Verbalizes More Than a Few Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Facts and Statistics

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

1.  Alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction cost the U.S. an estimated $220 billion in 2005.  This dollar amount was more than the cost related to cancer ($196 billion) or with obesity ($133 billion.

2.  More than one-half of U.S. adults have a close relative or family member who has or has had alcohol addiction.

3.  More than seventy-five percent of female victims of nonfatal, domestic violence stated that their assailant had been drinking or using drugs.

4.  In the United States on a yearly basis, more than thirty-three percent of pedestrians killed by motor vehicles were legally inebriated.

5.  One national study discovered that students are less likely to drink alcohol if they are socially accepted by others at school and feel that teachers treat students in a fair manner.

6.  Research reveals that youth who drink alcohol may remember ten percent less of what they have learned than those who don’t drink.

7.  About ten to twenty percent of the individuals who drink abusively ultimately 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 47% of industrial injuries are linked to alcohol abuse or alcohol addiction.

Larry Gets A Relevant Wake Up Call Regarding the Short Term and the Long Term Results of Adolescent Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

After Miss Johns verbalized the aforementioned alcohol dependency and alcohol abuse facts and statistics, it was clear 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 give an explanation of the short term and the long term effects of alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency, but she also took the time to validate what she was saying with alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction statistics and facts that related to people in general, and particularly to young people.

In actual fact, it was almost as if a light went on and Larry without pause realized why he should not be engaging in hazardous and excessive drinking with or without his friends anymore.  Larry thanked Miss Johns for her concern and for the material she presented.

Miss Johns then asked Larry how he felt about getting a physical exam and an alcohol assessment for the alcohol rehab he would probably need.

Larry thought about this for few minutes and then agreed to get a complete physical and to go through an extensive assessment of his drinking situation so that he could start an alcohol abuse or alcoholism rehab program right away.