A Disturbed High School Student Displays More Than a Few Alcohol-Related Problems, Gets Suspended From School, and Has to See the School Counselor

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A Disturbed High School Student Displays More Than a Few Alcohol-Related Problems, Gets Suspended From School, and Has to See the School Counselor

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Larry was a sixteen year old high school junior who was manifesting more than a few alcohol-related problems at school. For that reason, the principal informed him that he had to see Miss Johns, the school therapist, before he would be allowed to come back to school.

Later that day when Larry went home after school, he had to explain his school suspension to his Mom and Dad. His Mother and Father were “old school” and informed Larry that getting thrown out of school was not a doable educational game plan. They told Larry that failing to graduate from high school would more likely than not be like a lead weight around his feet that might hurt his educational attainment for the remainder of his life. Moreover, Larry’s Mom and Dad were quite unhappy that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his peers in the second.

They told Larry that although he may be young, he has to understand fairly promptly that drinking is the road to financial problems, pain, ill health, and failure.

It was evident that his Mom and Dad were completely in concurrence with Larry’s principal and explained to Larry that he had to see Miss Johns, the school psychologist. After his discussion with his Mother and Father, Larry finally 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 sixth period class.

The Counselor Asks Larry if He Comprehends Why His Recent Alcohol-Related Activities Caused Quite a Bit of Concern By the School Administrators

When Larry went to see Miss Johns, she instantly went over all of the alcohol-related difficulties Larry had experienced and asked him if he comprehended why his recent alcohol-related actions caused quite a bit of anxiety by the school administrators.

Quite truthfully, Larry was not sure why the principal explained to 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 situation? In view of the fact that virtually all of his peers drink as much if not more than he does, basically, drinking is no big thing. Stated another way, if almost everybody is drinking, why is this such a big deal?

Miss Johns asked Larry when he started to drink alcoholic beverages. 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 Johns told Larry that while his friends may indeed 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 kicked out of school due to alcohol-related fighting, delinquency, and absenteeism, not his peers. Moreover, Miss Johns also highlighted the fact that Larry, and not his peers, is the one who is failing and who is missing almost two days of school per week because of his alcohol related problems. Lastly, Miss Johns highlighted the fact that because of his drinking activities, Larry is getting into a harmful cycle of hazardous drinking that can at the end of the day destroy his dreams, hopes, and aspirations.

In short, Larry’s involvement with youth alcohol abuse was beginning to thwart his ability to conduct himself like an accountable young man. As stated by Miss Johns, “Just because most of your classmates drink beer, wine coolers, wine, or hard liquor does not mean that it is the best option for you.”

Larry Learns That At the End of the Day He Must Be Responsible For Himself In Order to Avert Destructive, Dangerous, Unhealthy, and Damaging Situations Down the Road

Miss Johns informed Larry that one’s pals can definitely influence a person in a negative manner, but that the individual himself or herself has to at the end of the day be responsible for herself or himself in order to steer clear of damaging, destructive, unhealthy, and dangerous circumstances down the road.

Fortunately, Miss Johns was very well prepared for her conference with Larry. She showed him research studies and reports she had underlined that outlined various drinking facts and statistics that applied to most people in general. Then she showed Larry quite a bit of figures and reports that applied principally to adolescents.

For example, Miss Johns emphasized the difference between alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse and told Larry that people who continue to drink abusively continually become alcohol dependent.

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

The Counselor Verbalizes More Than a Few Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse Facts and Statistics

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

1. As demonstrated in one study, just about 11% of 8th-graders, 22% of 10th-graders, and 27% of 12th-graders stated that they involved themselves in hazardous drinking.

2. Between 48% and 64% of the people who expire in fires have blood alcohol levels showing drunkenness.

3. Children who are drinking alcohol by 7th grade are more likely to report academic problems, substance use, and delinquent behavior in both high school and junior 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 U.S. among drivers between the ages of 15 and 20, fatal accidents involving a single vehicle at night are three times more probable to be alcohol-related than to other deadly accidents.

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

7. In the U.S, by the time they are seniors in high school, 80% of teens have used alcohol and 62% have been drunk.

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

Larry Gets A Meaningful Primer on the Facts About the Long Term and the Short Term Consequences of Youth Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Addiction

After Miss Johns stated the aforementioned alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse statistics and facts, it was clear that what Miss Johns made known to Larry was a real surprise to 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 abuse and alcohol addiction, but she also made the effort to verify what she was saying with alcohol abuse and alcoholism facts and statistics that related to people in general, and principally to underage drinkers.

Certainly, it was almost as if a light went on and Larry instantly realized why he should not be engaging in excessive and hazardous drinking with or without his buddies 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 examination and an alcohol evaluation for the alcohol rehabilitation he would probably need.

Larry thought about this for a minute and then agreed to get an extensive physical exam and to go through a thorough assessment of his drinking circumstances so that he could start an alcohol abuse or alcohol addiction rehab program promptly.

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