Larry was a seventeen year old high school junior who was displaying more than a few alcohol-related difficulties at school. Consequently, the principal explained to him that he had to see Miss Johns, the school psychologist, before he would be permitted to return to school.

Later that afternoon when Larry went home after school, he had to go over his school situation with his Mother and Father. His Mom and Dad were “fairly conservative” and informed Larry that getting discharged from school was not a possible educational plan of action. They informed Larry that failing to graduate from high school would more likely than not be like a lead weight around his legs that might hamper his educational achievement for the remainder of his adult life. Not only this, but Larry’s parents were very upset that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his classmates in the second.

They explained to Larry that although he may be young, he needs to comprehend fairly swiftly that drinking is the road to failure, financial problems, ill health, and pain.

It was evident that his Mother and Father were completely in agreement with Larry’s principal and explained to Larry that he had better make up his mind to see Miss Johns, the school counselor. After his talk with his Mom and Dad, 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 day during his third period class.

The Psychologist Asks Larry if He Comprehends Why His Recent Alcohol-Related Activities Were Such a Cause For Concern By the School Administrators

When Larry arrived at his scheduled appointment with Miss Johns, she instantaneously analyzed all of the alcohol-related difficulties Larry had gotten into and asked him if he understood why his recent alcohol-related activities were such a cause for concern.

Quite sincerely, Larry wondered why the principal informed him that he had to see a school psychologist. As he stated to Miss Johns, why should he see a professional counselor about his drinking behavior? In view of the fact that just about all of his friends drink as much if not more than he does, in effect, drinking is no big issue. Stated more precisely, if almost everyone 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 when he was twelve or thirteen years old and getting ready to enter the seventh grade.

Miss Johns informed Larry that while his buddies may in fact drink more than he does and that they may be a bad 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 pals. In addition, Miss Johns also highlighted the fact that Larry, and not his peers, is the one who is failing and who is missing at least two days of class every week because of his alcohol related issues. Finally, Miss Johns emphasized the fact that because of his drinking behavior, Larry is getting into a damaging cycle of alcohol abuse that can in due course destroy his hopes, dreams and aspirations.

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

Larry Learns That Ultimately He Must Be Responsible For Himself In Order to Stay Away From Destructive, Damaging, Dangerous, and Unhealthy Consequences Down the Road

Miss Johns explained to Larry that others can unquestionably influence an individual in an unhealthy manner, but that the person himself or herself has to in time claim responsibility for himself or herself in order to avert destructive, unhealthy, dangerous, and damaging outcomes down the road.

Luckily, Miss Johns was well prepared for her scheduled appointment with Larry. She showed him research studies and reports she had highlighted that listed various drinking facts and statistics that targeted most people in general. Then she showed Larry quite a bit of information that applied chiefly to teenagers.

For instance, Miss Johns explained the difference between alcoholism and alcohol abuse and told Larry that individuals who continue to drink excessively more often than not become dependent on alcohol.

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 Psychologist Verbalizes Numerous Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Statistics and Facts

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

1. As revealed in one study, roughly 11% of 8th-graders, 22% of 10th-graders, and 27% of 12th-graders stated that they involved themselves in binge drinking.

2. Between 48% and 64% of the people who perish in fires have blood alcohol levels indicating intoxication.

3. Children who are drinking alcohol by 7th grade are more probable to manifest substance abuse, delinquent behavior, and academic problems 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 alcohol-related.

5. In the United States among drivers between the ages of 15 and 20, fatal accidents involving a single vehicle at night are three times more probable to be related to alcohol than to other deadly accidents.

6. In the U.S., more than 40 percent of the individuals who begin drinking before the age of 13 will develop alcohol abuse or alcohol addiction at some point in their lives.

7. In the United States, by the time they are seniors in high school, 80% of teens have drank alcohol and 62% have been inebriated.

8. Treatment for alcohol addiction has been shown to decrease criminal activity up to 80% among long-term offenders, has reduced their health care costs, decreased their homelessness, and increased their rate of employment.

Larry Gets A Much Needed Jolt of Reality Concerning the Short Term and the Long Term Effects of Youth Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Dependency

After Miss Johns presented the aforementioned alcohol dependency and alcohol abuse facts and statistics, it was clear that what Miss Johns disclosed to Larry was a real eye opener for him. Why? Because for the first time in his young life, someone not only made the effort to articulate the long term and the short term consequences of alcohol abuse and alcoholism, but she also made the effort to support what she was saying with alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency statistics and facts that related to everyone, and especially to today’s youth.

Indeed, it was almost as if a light went on and Larry without pause comprehended why he should not be engaging in excessive and hazardous drinking with or without his classmates any longer. Larry thanked Miss Johns for her concern and for the materials she discussed.

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

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