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

Tuesday, June 30th, 2009    Subscribe To Our Feed

Larry was a fifteen year old high school sophomore who was exhibiting several alcohol-related problems at school. For that reason, the principal explained to 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 situation to his parents. His Mother and Father were “fairly old-fashioned” and told Larry that getting thrown out of school was not a possible educational game plan. They informed Larry that failing to graduate from high school would most probably be like a lead weight around his feet that may impair his educational aspirations for the rest of his adult life. What is more, Larry’s Mom and Dad were very discontented that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his classmates in the second.

They explained to Larry that even though he may be young, he needs to realize rather quickly that drinking is the road to ill health, financial problems, failure, and pain.

It was clear that his Mother and Father were in total agreement with Larry’s principal and explained to Larry that he needs to see Miss Johns, the school therapist. After his conversation with his parents, Larry at last agreed to see Miss Johns the next day. So Larry called the school and scheduled an appointment to see Miss Johns the next day during his third period class.

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

When Larry arrived at his scheduled appointment with Miss Johns, she without pause analyzed all of the alcohol-related issues Larry had experienced and asked him if he knew why his recent alcohol-related behavior gave the school administrators room for alarm.

Quite honestly, Larry was unsure why the principal told him he had to see a school psychologist. As he stated to Miss Johns, why should he see a professional therapist about his drinking activities? In view of the fact that almost all of his friends drink as much if not more than he does, for all intents and purposes, drinking is no big thing. Stated more forcefully, 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 buddies introduced him to drinking wine when he was twelve or thirteen years old and in the seventh grade.

Miss Johns told Larry that while his peers 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 thrown out of school due to alcohol-related fighting, delinquency, and absenteeism, not his buddies. Moreover, Miss Johns also emphasized the fact that Larry, and not his peers, is the one who is failing and who is missing one day of school every week because of his alcohol related issues. Finally, Miss Johns underscored the fact that because of his drinking circumstances, Larry is getting into a destructive cycle of alcohol abuse that can ultimately wreck his hopes, dreams and aspirations.

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

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

Miss Johns explained to Larry that other people can without a doubt influence an individual in a negative way, but that the person herself or himself has to finally be responsible for himself or herself in order to avert destructive, dangerous, damaging, and unhealthy situations in the future.

Luckily, Miss Johns was extremely well equipped for her appointment with Larry. She showed him research studies and reports she had underlined that outlined various drinking statistics and facts that applied to most people in general. Then she showed Larry quite a lot of information that applied particularly to adolescents.

As an illustration, Miss Johns explained the difference between alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency and explained to Larry that people who continue to drink abusively often become alcoholic.

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 Conveys A Number Alcohol Dependency and Alcohol Abuse Statistics and Facts

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

1. Alcohol is a contributing factor in approximately fifty percent of America’s murders, accidental deaths, and suicides.

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

3. Each year in the U.S., approximately 5,000 young people under the age of 21 lose their lives because of underage drinking. This includes approximately 1,900 fatalities from motor vehicle accidents.

4. Research has revealed that U.S. teenagers who drink alcohol are 50 times more likely to use cocaine than adolescents who never consume alcohol.

5. Roughly 1,700 college students in the United States lose their lives each year–roughly 4.65 per day–due to injuries that are alcohol related.

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

7. The World Health Organization estimates that around 76 million people throughout the world experience disorders that are related to alcohol abuse or alcohol dependency.

8. As shown by recent substance abuse studies, it has been learned that roughly 53% of the adults in the United States have stated that one or more of their close family members is addicted to alcohol or is an alcohol abuser.

Larry Gets A Meaningful Jolt of Reality Concerning the Long Term and the Short Term Results of Underage Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse

After Miss Johns listed the aforementioned alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction facts and statistics, it was apparent that what Miss Johns made known 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 outcomes of alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction, but she also took the time to confirm what she was saying with alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse statistics and facts that related to everyone, and principally to teens.

Definitely, it was almost as if a light went on and Larry promptly comprehended why he should not be engaging in excessive and hazardous drinking with or without his friends any longer. Larry thanked Miss Johns for her concern and for the information she reviewed.

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

Larry thought about this for few minutes and then agreed to get a comprehensive physical and to go through a comprehensive appraisal of his drinking behavior so that he could start an alcohol abuse or alcohol dependency treatment program immediately.

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