For example, one Thursday morning at 9:30 she addressed the pupils in her classroom and stated the following: “For the next two weeks we are going to learn about some basic alcoholism facts from a general perspective and we are also going to learn about some of the most familiar signs of alcoholism from a less general and more specific standpoint.”

“Not all of these alcoholism signs will beyond doubt substantiate that an individual with a drinking problem is a person who is alcohol dependent, but the more signs that a person manifests, the greater the possibility that he or she is an alcohol addicted person.”

Miss Benning then told the members of the class that each individual would be responsible for investigating four alcoholism signs and then presenting his or her results to the other class members via a nine minute oral presentation.

The Students are Keyed Up About Giving A Thorough Presentation to Their Fellow Classmates About The Signs of Alcohol Dependency

After learning about the different alcohol dependency signs for several days, the time had arrived for the oral presentations. It was immediately noticeable that the students were thrilled about the subject because the material that they presented was superb. To say that Miss Benning was pleasantly surprised with the fervor displayed by the students in her classroom regarding this topic could not be overstated.

The day after all of the students completed their presentations, Miss Benning passed out a sheet of paper with a list of all the alcohol dependency signs that were discussed and presented in class and in the presentations. Miss Benning then asked her students to go over the list and rank the top five alcoholism signs that were most indicative of alcoholism. After around five minutes, Miss Benning collected the sheets of paper and explained to her students that after she examines the numbers, she will present her findings the next school day.

There was some real anticipation by the students while they were exiting Miss Benning’s classroom. One could swear that her pupils couldn’t wait for the next day to arrive so that they could find out the outcome of their in-class research.

The Pupils Compare Their Answers With the Results From A Panel of Substance Abuse Authorities

When the next school day came, Miss Benning handed out a piece of paper that listed the top five alcohol dependency signs according to the students’ rankings. To the right of these results, she added another column that was labeled “correct answer.” She then explained to the pupils in her class that the numbers in the additional column she added stood for the responses that were articulated by a council of alcohol addiction professionals.

Miss Benning told her pupils to look over the information on the piece of paper she passed out and then to raise their hand if they had any questions, issues, or concerns. Within 40 or 50 seconds, just about everyone in the class raised her or his hand. It was apparent that the students had some questions, issues, or concerns about their results versus the answers given by the experts. For example, virtually every person in the class disagreed with the highest ranked answer given by the professionals, that is to say, “Do you feel exceptionally ill when you refrain from drinking?”

The Chief Difference Between Alcohol Dependency and Alcohol Abuse is the Physical Addiction That is Experienced With Alcohol Addiction and Not With Alcohol Abuse

Miss Benning then told the pupils in her class why this answer was the most unambiguous sign of alcohol dependency. She underlined the fact that the most important difference between alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction is the physical addiction that is experienced with alcoholism and not with alcohol abuse.

In effect this means that when an alcohol addicted person suddenly quits drinking, he or she will suffer through alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

Miss Benning then informed the students in her classroom that alcohol withdrawal symptoms are responses by the brain and by the body to the deficit of alcohol to which they had become acclimated. Stated another way, alcohol withdrawal symptoms are signals from the body and from the brain telling an alcohol dependent person that something is extremely incorrect and needs to be fixed. These signals consist of a number of uncomfortable, dangerous, and painful withdrawal symptoms that can potentially lead to a loss of life if the appropriate treatment is not immediately undertaken.

Miss Benning then listed the multitude of alcohol withdrawal symptoms that can be gone through when an individual who is addicted to alcohol suddenly quits drinking.

The point that Miss Benning tried to underscore was this: an alcohol abuser can experience almost any and every one of the alcohol dependency signs that the students had ranked, but the one sign or symptom that few, if any, alcohol abusers ever experience is alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

To explain this as overtly as possible, Miss Benning stressed the fact that alcohol abusers, unlike alcohol addicted individuals, are not alcohol dependent and as a consequence, when they quit drinking, they almost never go through alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

The Students Feel They Have Discovered A Dissimilarity With the Findings From The Council of Substance Abuse Authorities

The pupils also some difficulty with the second ranked answer given by the chemical dependency experts, to be exact, “Have you ever had a drink the first thing in the morning to get rid of a hangover or to steady your nerves?”

Miss Benning explained to the students in her class that this sign does not automatically mean that the problem is alcohol dependency, but that it does stress the need that people who are alcohol dependent have to drink in order to avert alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

After Miss Benning explained the significance of alcohol withdrawal symptoms in the life of the person who is alcohol dependent, the pupils started to appreciate the fundamental difference between alcohol abuse and alcoholism.

To add a sense of closure to the subject matter, Miss Benning asked the pupils in her class to take out a piece of paper and answer the following question: “if every person who is addicted to alcohol knew about every one of the alcohol withdrawal symptoms and alcoholism signs we have studied, what percentage of them do you think would obtain alcohol rehab?”

After roughly three or four minutes, Miss Benning asked for the pupils’ responses. While many students reasoned that roughly 80 to 90 percent of individuals who are alcohol dependent would get alcoholism treatment if they knew about the facts related to alcohol withdrawal symptoms and alcohol dependency signs, most of the pupils figured that this number would not be less than 55 percent.

The Students Were Amazed to Discover That Only 25% of Alcohol Dependent Individuals in the U.S. Get Alcohol Dependency Treatment

To the shock of most of the students, Miss Benning proclaimed that according to various scientific studies, only 25% of the alcoholics in the U.S. ask for alcoholism rehabilitation. This shocked most of the students because they figured that first-hand knowledge of the deplorable facts and statistics linked to alcoholism would motivate most of the alcohol addicted individuals to ask for alcohol addiction rehab.

Miss Benning then explained that people who are alcohol dependent not only need alcohol on an everyday basis in order to function but they also require alcohol everyday so they can avert possible alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Apparently, the alcohol dependent person’s need to drink on a daily basis is more powerful than facts or logic. Certainly, because the need for alcohol is “reality” to the individual who is alcohol dependent, this is difficult to change.

A few minutes later the bell rang, meaning that the end of class had arrived. Based on the enthusiasm displayed by the pupils when they were leaving the classroom, Miss Benning realized that she had encouraged and inspired the pupils in her classroom to stop and think about a critical health and social problem that exists in our country.

Other substance abuse experts state that the increase in teenage alcohol abuse is due to the acceptability and convenience of wine,liquor, and beer in our society.

Still other alcohol abuse specialists argue that quite a few of our teens engage in excessive drinking due to the increased disquiet that they feel.

From a slightly different viewpoint, because both parents in more than a few families work full or part-time, the lack of parental guidance evidently has to play a significant part in the proliferation of youth alcohol abuse. And last but not least, different alcohol abuse authorities emphasize the point that the proliferation of adolescent alcohol abuse is due, to some extent, to our “anything goes” society.

Excessive Drinking and Coping Skills

One aspect of adolescent alcohol abuse that appears to be poorly reported in the alcoholism research results, on the other hand, is the nonexistence of educational programs that teach teenagers how to improve upon their coping skills so that their harmful drinking behavior is fundamentally reduced or eliminated.

Stated another way, science has demonstrated that there is an indirect correlation between poor coping skills and hazardous drinking. Fundamentally, this means that the worse the coping skills, the higher the frequency of alcohol abuse. To the extent that this is a correct assertion, why isn’t coping skills training a significant part of the academic core curriculum in all of our elementary schools, junior high schools, and high schools?

A Society That Stresses Adolescent Coping Skills

Let us create a scenario for for the purpose of illumination. Let us imagine a society in which all individuals are taught how to achieve sound coping skills all the way from kindergarten up to and including the twelfth grade.

In such a society, when life gets demanding, students who are “coping skills masters” will be able to respond in a healthier and more successful manner, as opposed to others who fail to put their coping skills into practice.

Stated more explicitly, students who reveal sound coping skills will be more able to think proactively and exhibit excellent decision making as opposed to students who, because they lack good coping skills, resort to the “quick fix” of abusive drinking.

What would happen in the above “ideal” society, moreover, if adolescents not only received exceptional coping skills instruction but also got an extraordinary education that underscored the long term and short term destructive results associated with drug abuse and alcohol abuse? Such an emphasis on drug and alcohol abuse facts, along with more advanced coping skills instruction, it is advocated, would help adolescents steer clear of the obvious appeal related to youth drinking and, accordingly, would drastically lessen the dangerous drinking behavior displayed by teenagers in our country.

Youth Hazardous Drinking: Conclusion

There are obviously various sound reasons why so many of our teens drink in a dangerous manner. Such a complex subject demands a wide-ranging and more pertinent educational and preventative response by our parents, educators, politicians, and students so that our teens can learn how to cope with life’s difficulties in a more rewarding and responsible way rather than gravitating to alcohol abuse to solve their difficulties.

Later that day when Dante went home after school, he had to go over his school discharge with his Mom and Dad. His parents were “old school” and explained to Dante that getting kicked out of school was not a practical educational plan of action. They told Dante that failing to graduate from high school would more likely than not be like a lead weight around his feet that could probably impair his educational aspirations for the remainder of his life. Moreover, Dante’s Mother and Father were quite disappointed that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his buddies in the second.

His parents explained to Dante that although he may be a teen, he needs to understand rather quickly that drinking is the road to financial problems, failure, ill health, and pain.

It was clear that his Mom and Dad were in total accord with Dante’s principal and explained to Dante that he had better come to the realization that he needs to see Miss Johnson, the school therapist. After his dialogue with his Mother and Father, Dante at long last agreed to see Miss Johnson the next day. So Dante called the school and scheduled an appointment to see Miss Johnson the next day during his first period class.

The Psychologist Asks Dante if He Understands Why His Recent Alcohol-Related Behavior Signaled Such Alarm By the School Administrators

When Dante went to see Miss Johnson, she instantaneously looked at all of the alcohol-related problems Dante had experienced and asked him if he knew why his recent alcohol-related actions made the school administrators uneasy.

Quite frankly, Dante questioned why the principal informed him that he had to see a school psychologist. As he expressed to Miss Johnson, why should he see a professional psychologist about his drinking situation? Because virtually all of his friends drink the same amount that he does, essentially, drinking is no big thing. Stated more forcefully, if almost everybody is drinking, why is this such a major problem?

Miss Johnson asked Dante when he started to drink. He said that some of his older buddies introduced him to drinking hard liquor when he was twelve or thirteen years old and between the sixth and seventh grades.

Miss Johnson explained to Dante that while his buddies may indeed drink as much as 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 absenteeism, fighting, and delinquency, not his pals. Not only this but Miss Johnson also underscored the fact that Dante, and not his buddies, is the one who is failing and who is missing one day of class per week due to his alcohol related issues. Finally, Miss Johnson highlighted the fact that due to his drinking circumstances, Dante is getting into a harmful cycle of abusive drinking that can in due course wreck his hopes, dreams and aspirations.

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

Dante Learns That In the Long Run He Must Take Responsibility For Himself In Order to Keep Away From Destructive, Dangerous, Damaging, and Unhealthy Effects In the Future

Miss Johnson explained to Dante that one’s pals can certainly influence a person in a negative way, but that the person herself or himself has to ultimately take responsibility for herself or himself in order to stay away from destructive, damaging, unhealthy, and dangerous consequences in the future.

Fortunately, Miss Johnson was very well equipped for her meeting with Dante. She showed him reports and research studies she had underlined that outlined different drinking facts and statistics that applied to most people in general. Then she showed Dante quite a bit of data that applied particularly to teenagers.

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

Miss Johnson also articulated the concept of binge drinking that 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 Counselor Conveys Several Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Statistics and Facts

Then Miss Johnson articulated various alcohol facts and the following eight alcohol abuse statistics:

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

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

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

4. It is estimated that more than 3 million teens in the U.S. between the ages of 14 to 17 are alcohol abusers or alcohol dependent.

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

6. Very few of the more than 18 million U.S. alcohol abusers receive the alcohol treatment they need.

7. Adolescent drinking costs Americans nearly billion per year. If this cost were shared equally by each congressional district, the amount would total more than 0 million per district.

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

Dante Gets A Meaningful Jolt of Reality Concerning the Long Term and the Short Term Effects of Underage Alcohol Dependency and Alcohol Abuse

After Miss Johnson verbalized the aforementioned alcohol dependency and alcohol abuse statistics and facts, it was evident that what Miss Johnson taught Dante was a real eye opener for 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 consequences of alcohol dependency and alcohol abuse, but she also made the effort to support what she was saying with alcohol abuse and alcoholism facts and statistics that related to everyone in general, and principally to today’s youth.

Certainly, it was almost as if a light went on and Dante at once comprehended why he should not be engaging in hazardous and abusive drinking with or without his buddies any longer. Dante thanked Miss Johnson for her concern and for the material she went over.

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

Dante thought about this for few minutes and then agreed to get an extensive physical examination and to go through a complete appraisal of his drinking situation so that he could start an alcohol abuse or alcohol dependency treatment program in a reasonable time frame.

Other substance abuse authorities state that the increase in adolescent alcohol abuse is due to the acceptability and accessibility of beer, liquor, and wine in our society.

Still other alcohol abuse professionals argue that many of our young people engage in hazardous drinking due to the increased fretfulness that they face.

From a somewhat different outlook, due to the fact that both parents in quite a few families are employed, the lack of parental supervision unquestionably has to play a major part in the expansion of teen alcohol abuse. And last of all, various alcohol abuse authorities think that the expansion of adolescent alcohol abuse is due, at least partially, to our laissez-faire society.

Abusive Drinking and Coping Skills Education

One component of teen alcohol abuse that looks as if it poorly reported in the substance abuse research literature, alternatively, is the insufficiency of educational courses that teach teenagers how to further develop their coping skills so that their hazardous drinking behavior is substantially decreased or done away with.

More specifically, science has made obvious the fact that there is an indirect relationship between poor coping skills and hazardous drinking. In essence, this means that the poorer the coping skills, the greater the prevalence of alcohol abuse. To the degree that this is a correct claim, why isn’t coping skills instruction a significant part of the academic prospectus in all of our high schools, junior high schools, and elementary schools?

A Society That Highlights Teenage Coping Skills

Let us construct a scenario for for the purpose of elucidation. Let us imagine a society in which students are taught how to achieve excellent coping skills all the way from kindergarten up to and including their final year in high school.

In such a society, when life gets difficult, individuals who are “coping skills masters” will be able to respond in a healthier and more creative way, contrary to others who fail to implement their coping skills.

More precisely, students who show evidence of excellent coping skills will be more able to think proactively and engage in quality decision making as opposed to adolescents who, because they lack good coping skills, are drawn to the “quick fix” of hazardous drinking.

What would happen in the above “ideal” society, what’s more, if young people not only obtained excellent coping skills training but also obtained an excellent education that underscored the short term and long term unhealthy costs associated with drug abuse and alcohol abuse? Emphasizing these kinds of drug and alcohol abuse facts, along with more advanced coping skills education, it is declared, would help teens steer clear of the clear appeal correlated with teen drinking and, as a consequence, would fundamentally lessen the injurious drinking behavior displayed by the youth in our country.

Teen Excessive Drinking: Conclusion

There are indubitably various justifiable reasons why so many of our teens drink in an injurious manner. Such a knotty subject matter demands a thorough and more meaningful educational and preventative response by our educators, parents, politicians, and students so that our teenagers can learn how to cope with life’s predicaments in a more fruitful and accountable manner instead of resorting to injurious drinking behavior to solve their problems.

Other substance abuse professionals articulate that the increase in teen alcohol abuse is due to the toleration and ease of access of wine,liquor, and beer in our society.

Still other alcohol addiction professionals think that numerous young people get involved in destructive drinking because of the increased disquiet that they experience.

From a somewhat different outlook, because both parents in many families are employed, the lack of parental guidance obviously has to play a key part in the increase in teenage alcohol abuse. And finally, diverse alcohol abuse consultants believe that the rise in teen alcohol abuse is due, in some degree, to our “anything goes” society.

Abusive Drinking and Coping Skills

One feature of youth alcohol abuse that looks as if it somewhat missing in the substance abuse research findings, on the other hand, is the absence of educational programs that teach teenagers how to improve upon their coping skills so that their risky drinking behavior is significantly reduced or eradicated.

Stated differently, science has illustrated the fact that there is an indirect link between poor coping skills and abusive drinking. In essence, this means that the poorer the coping skills, the higher the prevalence of alcohol abuse. To the extent that this is a correct proclamation, why isn’t coping skills instruction an essential part of the academic core curriculum in all of our elementary schools, junior high schools, and high schools?

A Society That Accentuates Adolescent Coping Skills

Let us construct a scenario for for the purpose of elucidation. Let us imagine a society in which all people are trained how to achieve superior coping skills all the way from kindergarten up to and including their senior year in high school.

In such a society, when life gets stressful, students who are “coping skills masters” will be able to respond in a healthier and more rewarding manner, contrary to others who fail to implement their coping skills.

Stated another way, students who demonstrate excellent coping skills will be more able to think proactively and demonstrate first-class decision making as opposed to teenagers who, because they were unsuccessful in their attempts to develop good coping skills, resort to the “quick fix” of excessive drinking.

What would happen in the above “ideal” society, what’s more, if teenagers not only obtained exceptional coping skills training but also got an excellent education that underscored the short term and long term devastating outcomes associated with drug abuse and alcohol abuse? Emphasizing these drug and alcohol abuse facts, along with more advanced coping skills education, it is emphasized, would help adolescents keep away from the noticeable charm interlinked with teenage drinking and, therefore, would radically lessen the hazardous drinking behavior demonstrated by the youth in our country.

Adolescent Abusive Drinking: Conclusion

There are without a doubt more than a few justifiable reasons why so many of our teens drink in a risky manner. Such a thorny subject demands a far-reaching and more meaningful educational and preventative response by our politicians, students, educators, and parents so that our adolescents can learn how to cope with life’s difficulties in a more productive and accountable manner instead of gravitating to hazardous drinking behavior to solve their difficulties.

Later that afternoon when Dante went home after school, he had to go over his school discharge with his parents. His Mom and Dad were “fairly old-style” and explained to Dante that getting discharged from school was not a feasible educational game plan. They explained to Dante that failing to graduate from high school would most probably be like a lead weight around his ankles that could probably harm his educational aspirations for the rest of his adult life. Moreover, Dante’s Mom and Dad were extremely dissatisfied that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his friends in the second.

They informed Dante that although he may be a teen, he has to realize fairly rapidly that drinking is the map to ill health, pain, financial problems, and failure.

It was obvious that his Mother and Father were completely in accord with Dante’s principal and informed Dante that he had better come to the realization that he needs to see Miss Johnson, the school psychologist. After his conversation with his Mom and Dad, Dante at long last agreed to see Miss Johnson the next day. So Dante called the school and scheduled an appointment to see Miss Johnson the next day during his sixth period class.

The Psychologist Asks Dante if He Understands Why His Recent Alcohol-Related Behavior Made the School Administrators Uneasy

When Dante got to his scheduled appointment with Miss Johnson, she instantly went over all of the alcohol-related difficulties Dante had experienced and asked him if he understood why his recent alcohol-related behavior was such a cause for concern.

Quite frankly, Dante was not sure why the principal told him he had to see a school counselor. As he expressed to Miss Johnson, why should he see a professional psychologist about his drinking behavior? Because virtually all of his buddies drink the same amount that he does, in essence, drinking is no big issue. Stated more directly, if almost everybody is drinking, why is this such a major problem?

Miss Johnson asked Dante when he started to drink. He said that some of his older friends introduced him to drinking beer when he was twelve or thirteen years old and getting ready to enter junior high school.

Miss Johnson informed Dante that while his classmates may indeed drink as much as he does and that they may be an unhealthy influence on him, the facts are that he is the one who is getting kicked out of school due to alcohol-related delinquency, absenteeism, and fighting, not his classmates. What is more, Miss Johnson also emphasized the fact that Dante, and not his pals, is the one who is failing and who is missing at least one day of class every week because of his alcohol related problems. Finally, Miss Johnson underlined the fact that because of his drinking activities, Dante is getting into a damaging cycle of hazardous drinking that can in the end destroy his aspirations, hopes, and dreams.

In a word, Dante’s involvement with youth alcohol abuse was starting to foil his ability to conduct himself like a responsible young man. As articulated by Miss Johnson, “Just because most of your buddies drink beer, hard liquor, wine coolers, or wine does not mean that it is right for you.”

Dante Learns That Eventually He Must Be Responsible For Himself In Order to Steer Clear of Unhealthy, Dangerous, Destructive, and Damaging Effects Down the Road

Miss Johnson told Dante that one’s buddies can certainly influence an individual in a negative 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 steer clear of destructive, unhealthy, damaging, and dangerous circumstances in the future.

Fortunately, Miss Johnson was well prepared for her conference with Dante. She showed him reports and research studies she had underlined that outlined diverse drinking statistics and facts that applied to most people in general. Then she showed Dante quite a bit of information that applied principally to teenagers.

As an illustration, Miss Johnson emphasized the difference between alcohol abuse and alcoholism and explained to Dante that people who continue to drink abusively commonly become alcohol dependent.

Miss Johnson also explained 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 Therapist Lists Numerous Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Facts and Statistics

Then Miss Johnson listed various alcohol facts and the following eight alcohol abuse statistics:

1. The 25.9% of adolescent drinkers in the U.S. who are alcoholic and alcohol abusers drink 47.3% of the alcohol that is consumed by all adolescent drinkers.

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

3. In 2002, U.S. alcoholism statistics and facts showed 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 U.S. between the ages of 14 to 17 are problem drinkers.

5. In the U.S., more than 40% of those who begin drinking at the age 14 or younger become dependent on alcohol.

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

7. Teenage drinking costs Americans nearly billion per year. If each congressional district shared this cost equally, the amount would total more than 0 million per district.

8. Alcohol-related issues are disproportionately found among both juvenile and adult criminal offenders.

Dante Gets A Meaningful Wake Up Call Regarding the Long Term and the Short Term Results of Underage Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Dependency

After Miss Johnson verbalized the aforementioned alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction statistics and facts, it was obvious that what Miss Johnson revealed to Dante was a real source of revelation for him. Why? Because for the first time in his young life, someone not only took the time to put in plain words the long term and the short term outcomes of alcoholism and alcohol abuse, but she also took the time to authenticate what she was saying with alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse facts and statistics that related to people in general, and especially to young people.

Indeed, it was almost as if a light went on and Dante at once understood why he should not be engaging in abusive and hazardous drinking with or without his classmates anymore. Dante thanked Miss Johnson for her concern and for the materials she discussed.

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

Dante thought about this for a minute and then agreed to get an extensive physical exam and to go through an extensive appraisal of his drinking situation so that he could start an alcohol abuse or alcohol dependency rehab program promptly.

Later that afternoon when Dante went home after school, he had to clarify his school expulsion to his Mother and Father. His Mother and Father were “relatively old fashioned” and explained to Dante that getting discharged from school was not a practical educational game plan. They told Dante that failing to graduate from high school would most probably be like a lead weight around his legs that could quite possibly harm his educational attainment for the rest of his life. Furthermore, Dante’s parents were very disturbed that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his peers in the second.

His Mom and Dad informed Dante that although he may be a teenager, he needs to understand rather quickly that drinking is the route to financial problems, failure, pain, and ill health.

It was evident that his parents were completely in concurrence with Dante’s principal and informed Dante that he had better come to the understanding that he needs to see Miss Johnson, the school counselor. After his dialogue with his Mother and Father, Dante eventually agreed to see Miss Johnson the next day. So Dante phoned the school and scheduled an appointment to see Miss Johnson the next morning.

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

When Dante arrived at his scheduled appointment with Miss Johnson, she promptly examined all of the alcohol-related issues Dante had experienced and asked him if he understood why his recent alcohol-related activities gave the school administrators room for alarm.

Quite honestly, Dante was unsure why the principal told him he had to see a school counselor. As he stated to Miss Johnson, why should he see a professional counselor about his drinking circumstances? Since virtually all of his buddies drink as much if not more than he does, drinking really is no big issue. Stated more precisely, if just about everyone 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 classmates introduced him to drinking wine when he was twelve or thirteen years old and between the sixth and seventh grades.

Miss Johnson informed Dante 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 discharged from school due to alcohol-related fighting, delinquency, and absenteeism, not his pals. What is more, Miss Johnson also underscored the fact that Dante, and not his friends, is the one who is failing and who is missing one day of school every week because of his alcohol related problems. Finally, Miss Johnson highlighted the fact that because of his drinking behavior, Dante is getting into a damaging cycle of alcohol abuse that can in due course ruin his life.

In a word, Dante’s involvement with teenage alcohol abuse was beginning to foil his ability to act like a responsible young man. As verbalized by Miss Johnson, “Just because most of your classmates drink hard liquor, beer, wine, or wine coolers does not mean that it is the healthiest thing in the world for you.”

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

Miss Johnson told Dante that one’s peers can undeniably influence an individual in an unhealthy way, but that the person herself or himself has to at the end of the day claim responsibility for himself or herself in order to keep away from destructive, unhealthy, dangerous, and damaging consequences in the future.

Luckily, Miss Johnson was extremely well prepared for her scheduled meeting with Dante. She showed him reports and research studies she had underlined that listed diverse drinking statistics and facts that applied to most people in general. Then she showed Dante quite a bit of figures and reports that applied mainly to teens.

For example, Miss Johnson underscored the difference between alcohol dependency and alcohol abuse and told Dante that individuals who continue to abuse alcohol frequently become addicted to alcohol.

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

The Therapist Articulates A Number Alcohol Dependency and Alcohol Abuse Facts and Statistics

Then Miss Johnson articulated various alcohol facts and the following eight alcohol abuse statistics:

1. Alcohol is a factor in around half of America’s accidental deaths, murders, and suicides.

2. Alcohol-related accidents are the leading cause of deaths among teens.

3. Each year in the United States, nearly 5,000 youth under the age of 21 die as a result of underage drinking. This includes around 1,900 fatalities from motor vehicle accidents.

4. Research has demonstrated that U.S. teens who drink alcohol are 50 times more likely to use cocaine than adolescents who never ingest alcoholic beverages.

5. Almost 1,700 college students in the U.S. lose their lives annually–about 4.65 a day–as a consequence of injuries that are alcohol related.

6. In 2005, 2.1 million American college students between the ages of 18 and 24 asserted that they engage in drinking while driving.

7. The World Health Organization projects that about 76 million people throughout the world experience disorders that are related to alcohol abuse or alcoholism.

8. As revealed by recent drug and alcohol abuse studies, it has been learned that nearly 53% of the adults in the United States have articulated that one or more of their close family members has a problem with alcohol.

Dante Gets A Meaningful Wake Up Call About the Short Term and the Long Term Results of Adolescent Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse

After Miss Johnson went over the aforementioned alcoholism and alcohol abuse facts and statistics, it was clear that what Miss Johnson disclosed to Dante was a real source of discovery for him. Why? Because for the first time in his young life, someone not only took the time to give an explanation of the long term and the short term outcomes of alcohol abuse and alcoholism, but she also took the time to validate what she was saying with alcoholism and alcohol abuse facts and statistics that related to everyone, and especially to teens.

In actual fact, it was almost as if a light went on and Dante instantaneously realized why he should not be engaging in excessive and hazardous drinking with or without his peers any longer. Dante thanked Miss Johnson for her concern and for the materials she discussed.

Miss Johnson then asked Dante how he felt about getting a physical examination and an alcohol assessment for the alcohol treatment he would probably need.

Dante thought about this for a minute and then agreed to get a complete physical examination and to go through a comprehensive assessment of his drinking condition so that he could start an alcohol abuse or alcoholism treatment program immediately.

Later that day when Larry went home after school, he had to explain his school discharge to his Mom and Dad. His Mother and Father were “relatively old fashioned” and told Larry that getting suspended from school was not a tolerable educational game plan. They explained to Larry that failing to graduate from high school would probably be like a lead weight around his feet that might mar his educational attainment for the rest of his life. What is more, Larry’s Mother and Father were very let down that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his buddies in the second.

His Mom and Dad told Larry that even though he may be a teen, he needs to understand fairly promptly that drinking is the path to ill health, pain, failure, and financial problems.

It was clear that his Mom and Dad were out-and-out in full agreement with Larry’s principal and told Larry that he had better come to the understanding that he needs to see Miss Johns, the school psychologist. After his chat with his Mom and Dad, Larry eventually agreed to see Miss Johns the next school day. So Larry called the school and scheduled an appointment to see Miss Johns the next day during his second period class.

The Psychologist Asks Larry if He Understands Why His Recent Alcohol-Related Actions Caused Quite a Bit of Anxiety By the School Administrators

When Larry went to see Miss Johns, she instantaneously examined all of the alcohol-related problems Larry had experienced and asked him if he knew why his recent alcohol-related behavior made the school administrators uneasy.

Quite truthfully, Larry wondered why the principal told him he had to see a school counselor. As he expressed to Miss Johns, why should he see a professional therapist about his drinking situation? Since almost all of his buddies drink as much if not more than he does, for all intents and purposes, drinking is no big thing. Stated more explicitly, if just about 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 friends introduced him to drinking beer when he was twelve or thirteen years old and getting ready to enter junior high school.

Miss Johns informed Larry that while his pals may in fact drink as much as he does and that they may be an unhealthy influence on him, the facts are that he is the one who is getting removed from school due to alcohol-related fighting, delinquency, and absenteeism, not his buddies. Not only this but Miss Johns also highlighted the fact that Larry, and not his buddies, is the one who is failing and who is missing one day of school per week due to his alcohol related issues. Finally, Miss Johns highlighted the fact that due to his drinking activities, Larry is getting into a dangerous cycle of alcohol abuse that can in due course ruin his dreams, hopes, and aspirations.

In a word, Larry’s involvement with teenage alcohol abuse was starting to foil his ability to function as an accountable young man. As stated by Miss Johns, “Just because most of your buddies drink wine, hard liquor, beer, or wine coolers does not mean that it is the right thing to do for you.”

Larry Learns That In the Long Run He Must Claim Responsibility For Himself In Order to Prevent Destructive, Damaging, Unhealthy, and Dangerous Situations Down the Road

Miss Johns informed Larry that others can indeed influence a person in a negative way, but that the individual herself or himself has to in time take responsibility for himself or herself in order to keep away from destructive, unhealthy, damaging, and dangerous outcomes down the road.

Luckily, Miss Johns was extremely well prepared for her conference with Larry. She showed him reports and research studies she had highlighted that summarized various drinking statistics and facts that targeted most people in general. Then she showed Larry a lot of data that applied particularly to teens.

As an illustration, Miss Johns highlighted the difference between alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction and told Larry that individuals who continue to abuse alcohol habitually become alcoholic.

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

The Psychologist Verbalizes A Number Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Facts and Statistics

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

1. The 25.9% of adolescent drinkers in the U.S. who are alcoholic and alcohol abusers drink 47.3% of the alcohol that is ingested by all teen drinkers.

2. Fifty percent of United States homicides are related to alcohol.

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

4. It is estimated 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 40% of those who begin drinking at the age 14 or younger become alcohol dependent.

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

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

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

Larry Gets An Important Wake Up Call Regarding the Long Term and the Short Term Consequences of Teenage Alcohol Addiction and Alcohol Abuse

After Miss Johns stated the aforementioned alcoholism and alcohol abuse statistics and facts, it was obvious that what Miss Johns disclosed to Larry was a real shock to him. Why? Because for the first time in his young life, someone not only made the effort to go over the long term and the short term consequences of alcohol abuse and alcoholism, but she also made the effort to substantiate what she was saying with alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency statistics and facts that related to people in general, and chiefly to young people.

To be sure, it was almost as if a light went on and Larry without pause grasped why he should not be engaging in abusive and hazardous drinking with or without his pals 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 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 an extensive physical examination and to go through a thorough assessment of his drinking situation so that he could start an alcohol abuse or alcohol addiction rehab program in a reasonable time frame.

Later that day when Larry went home after school, he had to clarify his school expulsion to his Mother and Father. His Mother and Father were “fairly conventional” and informed Larry that getting expelled from school was not a tolerable educational option. They told Larry that failing to graduate from high school would most probably be like a lead weight around his legs that could quite possibly impede his educational aspirations for the rest of his life. What is more, Larry’s Mom and Dad were extremely saddened that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his peers in the second.

His parents told Larry that although he may be an adolescent, he needs to comprehend fairly promptly that drinking is the pathway to pain, failure, ill health, and financial problems.

It was evident that his Mother and Father were completely in concurrence with Larry’s principal and informed Larry that he had better make up his mind to see Miss Johns, the school therapist. After his talk with his parents, Larry finally agreed to see Miss Johns the next school day. So Larry phoned the school and made an appointment to see Miss Johns the next afternoon after school.

The Psychologist Asks Larry if He Understands Why His Recent Alcohol-Related Activities Signaled Such Alarm By the School Administrators

When Larry went to see Miss Johns, she at once examined all of the alcohol-related difficulties Larry had experienced and asked him if he knew why his recent alcohol-related activities caused quite a bit of anxiety by the school administrators.

Quite honestly, Larry wondered why the principal informed him that he had to see a school therapist. As he stated to Miss Johns, why should he see a professional counselor about his drinking activities? Because nearly all of his classmates drink about as much as he does, primarily, drinking is no big issue. Stated another way, if nearly everyone is drinking, why is this such a major concern?

Miss Johns asked Larry when he started to drink alcoholic beverages. He said that some of his older friends introduced him to drinking beer when he was twelve or thirteen years old and in the seventh grade.

Miss Johns told Larry that while his pals 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 expelled from school due to alcohol-related absenteeism, fighting, and delinquency, not his buddies. 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 one day of school per week due to his alcohol related difficulties. Finally, Miss Johns underscored the fact that due to his drinking activities, Larry is getting into a harmful cycle of hazardous drinking that can in time destroy his hopes, dreams and aspirations.

In short, Larry’s involvement with adolescent alcohol abuse was starting to thwart his ability to function as a responsible young man. As articulated by Miss Johns, “Just because most of your pals drink wine, hard liquor, wine coolers, or beer does not mean that it is the healthiest thing in the world for you.”

Larry Learns That In Due Course He Must Be Accountable For Himself In Order to Avoid Damaging, Unhealthy, Dangerous, and Destructive Consequences In the Future

Miss Johns informed Larry that other individuals can undoubtedly influence a person in a negative manner, but that the person herself or himself has to in the long run take responsibility for herself or himself in order to keep away from dangerous, destructive, damaging, and unhealthy situations in the foreseeable future.

Luckily, Miss Johns was very well equipped for her meeting with Larry. She showed him reports and research studies she had underlined that outlined various drinking facts and statistics that targeted most people in general. Then she showed Larry quite a lot of figures and reports that applied chiefly to teenagers.

For instance, Miss Johns explained the difference between alcoholism and alcohol abuse and told Larry that people who continue to drink in an abusive manner frequently become addicted to alcohol.

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

The Psychologist Presents Quite a Few Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Dependency Facts and Statistics

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

1. As revealed by the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, there are 105,000 yearly alcohol-related deaths in the United States due to drunk drivers and related injuries, diseases, or medical conditions.

2. Approximately twenty-five percent of all U.S. people who are admitted to general hospitals have drinking problems or are undiagnosed individuals who are addicted to alcohol who are being treated for the results of their abusive drinking.

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

4. More than seven percent of the population that is 18 years old and older — approximately 13.8 million Americans — has drinking problems, including 8.1 million drinkers who suffer from alcohol addiction.

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

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

7. Currently, almost 14 million Americans, 1 in every 13 adults, are addicted to alcohol or are alcohol abusers.

8. According to the research literature, non-alcoholic members of alcoholic’s families use 10 times as much sick time as families who do not exhibit alcohol addiction or alcohol abuse.

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

After Miss Johns verbalized the aforementioned alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency statistics and facts, it was obvious that what Miss Johns taught Larry was a real eye opener for him. Why? Because for the first time in his young life, someone not only took the time to put in plain words the long term and the short term results of alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction, but she also took the time to corroborate what she was saying with alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse facts and statistics that related to everybody in general, and principally to underage drinkers.

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

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

Larry thought about this for a minute and then agreed to get a complete physical and to go through a thorough appraisal of his drinking situation so that he could start an alcohol abuse or alcoholism rehabilitation program right away.

Other chemical dependency authorities claim that the increase in teen alcohol abuse is due to the toleration and accessibility of wine, beer, and liquor in our society.

Still other alcoholism authorities think that more than a few of our teenagers engage in destructive drinking due to the increased pressure that they go through.

From a slightly different standpoint, since both parents in quite a few families are gainfully employed, the lack of parental guidance unquestionably has to play a major part in the spread of teenage alcohol abuse. And last of all, various substance abuse specialists stress the point that the rise in adolescent alcohol abuse is due, in some degree, to our lenient society.

Coping Skills and Abusive Drinking

One facet of adolescent alcohol abuse that looks as if it poorly reported in the substance abuse research results, however, is the dearth of educational programs that teach students how to improve upon their coping skills so that their abusive drinking behavior is extensively reduced or exterminated.

More to the point, scientific research has disclosed the fact that there is an indirect correlation between poor coping skills and hazardous drinking. In effect, this means that the poorer the coping skills, the higher the rate of alcohol abuse. To the degree that this is a valid proclamation, why isn’t coping skills training an important part of the academic core curriculum in all of our junior high schools, elementary schools, and high schools?

A Society That Emphasizes Teenage Coping Skills

Let us create a scenario for for the purpose of elucidation. Let us imagine a society in which all people are trained how to develop superior coping skills all the way from kindergarten up to and including their senior year in high school.

In such a society, when life gets complicated, people who are ”coping skills experts” will be able to respond in a healthier and more productive way, as opposed to others who are unsuccessful in their attempts to execute their coping skills.

More explicitly, students who reveal sound coping skills will be more able to think proactively and exhibit quality decision making as opposed to teenagers who, because they failed to obtain good coping skills, are attracted to the “quick fix” of hazardous drinking.

What would happen in the above “ideal” society, additionally, if adolescents not only received excellent coping skills instruction but also got an exceptional education that highlighted the long term and short term injurious results associated with drug abuse and alcohol abuse? Emphasizing these drug and alcohol abuse facts, along with more advanced coping skills education, it is emphasized, would help students stay away from the clear appeal correlated with teen drinking and, accordingly, would drastically lessen the injurious drinking behavior displayed by the youth in our country.

Teen Risky Drinking: Conclusion

There are evidently numerous compelling reasons why so many of our adolescents drink in a destructive manner. Such a tricky subject demands a far-reaching and more pertinent preventative and educational response by our educators, students, parents, and politicians so that our teens can learn how to cope with life’s problems in a more productive and responsible way instead of resorting to abusive drinking behavior to solve their difficulties.