Larry was a eighteen year old high school senior who was manifesting quite a few alcohol-related problems at school. Therefore, the principal informed him that he had to see Miss Johns, the school counselor, before he would be allowed to return to class.
Later that day when Larry went home after school, he had to go over his school suspension with his parents. His parents were “fairly conventional” and explained to Larry that getting kicked out of school was not a possible educational plan of action. They told Larry that failing to graduate from high school would more likely than not be like a lead weight around his ankles that may impair his educational achievement for the remainder of his life. What is more, Larry’s parents were very disturbed that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his friends in the second.
His Mother and Father explained to Larry that although he may be an adolescent, he needs to realize without much delay that drinking is the path to financial problems, pain, failure, and ill health.
It was obvious that his Mom and Dad were absolutely in concurrence with Larry’s principal and told Larry that he had to see Miss Johns, the school counselor. After his dialogue with his parents, Larry at long last agreed to see Miss Johns the next day. So Larry called the school and scheduled an appointment to see Miss Johns the next afternoon.
The Psychologist Asks Larry if He Understands Why His Recent Alcohol-Related Actions Caused Quite a Bit of Apprehension By the School Administrators
When Larry went to see Miss Johns, she instantaneously looked at all of the alcohol-related problems Larry had experienced and asked him if he knew why his recent alcohol-related activities gave the school administrators room for alarm.
Quite honestly, Larry was unsure 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 circumstances? Since nearly all of his classmates drink about as much as he does, fundamentally, drinking shouldn’t be such a big deal. Stated more precisely, if nearly 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 pals introduced him to drinking wine coolers when he was twelve or thirteen years old and getting ready to enter junior high school.
Miss Johns told Larry that while his buddies may indeed drink as much as he does and that they may be a bad 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 classmates. In addition, Miss Johns also underscored the fact that Larry, and not his peers, is the one who is failing and who is missing almost two days of class per week due to his alcohol related problems. Lastly, Miss Johns emphasized the fact that due to his drinking activities, Larry is getting into a negative cycle of alcohol abuse that can in time wreck his hopes, dreams and aspirations.
In a word, Larry’s involvement with teen alcohol abuse was beginning to impede his ability to act like an accountable young man. As put into words by Miss Johns, “Just because most of your classmates drink hard liquor, wine coolers, wine, 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 Accountable For Himself In Order to Avoid Destructive, Damaging, Dangerous, and Unhealthy Effects In the Foreseeable Future
Miss Johns told Larry that other individuals can indeed influence an individual in an unhealthy way, but that the person himself or herself has to eventually claim responsibility for himself or herself in order to steer clear of destructive, unhealthy, damaging, and dangerous situations in the future.
Luckily, Miss Johns was very well equipped for her meeting with Larry. She showed him research studies and reports she had highlighted that outlined different drinking facts and statistics that targeted most people in general. Then she showed Larry a lot of figures and reports that applied especially to adolescents.
As an illustration, Miss Johns underscored the difference between alcoholism and alcohol abuse and explained to Larry that people who continue to drink in an abusive manner more often than not become alcohol dependent.
Miss Johns also articulated 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 Counselor Lists Several Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Addiction Statistics and Facts
Then Miss Johns listed the following eight alcoholism facts and alcohol abuse statistics:
1. The 25.9% of teen drinkers in the United States who are alcoholic and alcohol abusers drink 47.3% of the alcohol that is ingested by all teenage drinkers.
2. Fifty percent of U.S. homicides are alcohol related.
3. In 2002, U.S. alcoholism facts and statistics reported that 2.6 million binge drinkers were between the ages of 12 and 17.
4. It is estimated that more than 3 million teenagers in the United States between the ages of 14 to 17 are problem drinkers.
5. In the United States, more than 40% of those who begin drinking at the age 14 or younger become alcoholic.
6. Very few of the more than 18 million U.S. alcohol abusers receive the alcohol rehabilitation they need.
7. Adolescent drinking costs Americans nearly $53 billion per year. If each congressional district shared this cost equally, the amount would total more than $120 million per district.
8. Alcohol-related difficulties are disproportionately found among both juvenile and adult criminal offenders.
Larry Gets A Relevant Primer on the Facts Concerning the Long Term and the Short Term Outcomes of Underage Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Addiction
After Miss Johns verbalized the aforementioned alcohol dependency and alcohol abuse facts and statistics, it was plain to see that what Miss Johns disclosed to Larry 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 results of alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse, but she also made the effort to authenticate what she was saying with alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency facts and statistics that related to everyone, and especially to teens.
In actual fact, it was almost as if a light went on and Larry at once understood why he should not be engaging in hazardous and excessive drinking with or without his buddies any longer. Larry thanked Miss Johns for her concern and for the material she went over.
Miss Johns then asked Larry how he felt about getting a physical examination and an alcohol assessment for the alcohol abuse or alcoholism rehabilitation he would probably need.
Larry thought about this for a minute and then agreed to get a thorough physical examination and to go through an extensive appraisal of his drinking situation so that he could start an alcohol abuse or alcohol addiction rehabilitation program in a realistic time frame.
Mail this postLarry was a sixteen year old high school junior who was exhibiting a number of alcohol-related issues at school. For that reason, the principal told him that he had to see Miss Johns, the school therapist, before he would be allowed to return to class.
Later that day when Larry went home after school, he had to explain his school situation to his Mom and Dad. His Mother and Father were “fairly conservative” and told Larry that dropping out of school was not a feasible educational game plan. They told Larry that failing to graduate from high school would probably be like a lead weight around his ankles that could quite possibly hinder his educational attainment for the remainder of his adult life. What is more, Larry’s Mom and Dad were extremely dismayed that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his peers in the second.
His Mom and Dad explained to Larry that although he may be a teenager, he has to understand fairly promptly that drinking is the pathway to failure, ill health, pain, and financial problems.
It was clear that his parents were in total agreement with Larry’s principal and informed Larry that he had better come to the understanding that he needs to see Miss Johns, the school psychologist. After his discussion with his Mother and Father, Larry in the end 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 fifth period class.
The Therapist Asks Larry if He Understands Why His Recent Alcohol-Related Actions Gave the School Administrators Room For Alarm
When Larry went to see Miss Johns, she at once analyzed all of the alcohol-related difficulties Larry had experienced and asked him if he knew why his recent alcohol-related activities signaled such alarm.
Quite candidly, Larry was unsure 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 psychologist about his drinking circumstances? Due to the fact that just about all of his peers drink the same amount that he does, primarily, drinking shouldn’t be such a big thing. Stated another way, if nearly everybody is drinking, why is this such a big thing?
Miss Johns asked Larry 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 Johns informed Larry that while his buddies 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 thrown out of school due to alcohol-related absenteeism, fighting, and delinquency, not his friends. Furthermore, Miss Johns also stressed the fact that Larry, and not his peers, is the one who is failing and who is missing at least two days of class per week due to his alcohol related difficulties. Finally, Miss Johns stressed the fact that because of his drinking situation, Larry is getting into a dangerous cycle of hazardous drinking that can in time ruin his dreams, hopes, and aspirations.
In a word, Larry’s involvement with youth alcohol abuse was beginning to impede his ability to act like a responsible young man. As pronounced by Miss Johns, “Just because most of your buddies drink hard liquor, beer, wine coolers, or wine does not mean that it is the correct behavior for you.”
Larry Learns That In the End He Must Take Responsibility For Himself In Order to Avert Dangerous, Damaging, Destructive, and Unhealthy Situations Down the Road
Miss Johns told Larry that one’s peers can without a doubt influence a person in a negative manner, but that the individual himself or herself has to at the end of the day claim responsibility for himself or herself in order to steer clear of unhealthy, dangerous, destructive, and damaging circumstances in the foreseeable future.
Fortunately, Miss Johns was well prepared for her meeting with Larry. She showed him reports and research studies she had underlined that outlined different drinking facts and statistics that targeted most people in general. Then she showed Larry a lot of figures and reports that applied especially to teens.
As an illustration, Miss Johns emphasized the difference between alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse and explained to Larry that drinkers who continue to drink in a hazardous manner habitually become alcoholic.
Miss Johns also explained the concept of binge drinking which she defined as follows: drinking five or more drinks in one sitting for males and consuming four or more drinks in one sitting for females.
The Therapist Verbalizes A Number Alcohol Addiction and Alcohol Abuse Statistics and Facts
Then Miss Johns stated the following eight alcoholism facts and alcohol abuse statistics:
1. Alcohol is a factor in around half of America’s murders, accidental deaths, and suicides.
2. Alcohol-related accidents are the leading cause of fatalities among teens.
3. Each year in the United States, nearly 5,000 young people under the age of 21 die as a result of underage drinking. This includes about 1,900 fatalities from motor vehicle crashes.
4. Research has shown that U.S. teenagers who drink alcohol are 50 times more likely to use cocaine than teenagers who never ingest alcohol.
5. Almost 1,700 college students in the United States are killed 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 claimed that they engage in driving under the influence of alcohol.
7. The World Health Organization estimates that roughly 76 million individuals throughout the world experience disorders that are related to alcohol dependency or alcohol abuse.
8. As demonstrated by recent drug and alcohol abuse studies, it has been learned that about 53% of the adults in the U.S. have reported that one or more of their close relatives is alcohol dependent or is an alcohol abuser.
Larry Gets A Meaningful Wake Up Call Regarding the Long Term and the Short Term Effects of Teen Alcohol Addiction and Alcohol Abuse
After Miss Johns articulated the aforementioned alcohol dependency and alcohol abuse facts and statistics, it was clear that what Miss Johns taught Larry was a real bombshell 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 results of alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse, but she also took the time to verify what she was saying with alcoholism and alcohol abuse statistics and facts that related to everyone in general, and principally to adolescents.
Indeed, it was almost as if a light went on and Larry without pause grasped why he should not be engaging in excessive and abusive drinking with or without his friends any longer. 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 dependency rehabilitation he would probably need.
Larry thought about this for few minutes and then agreed to get an extensive physical exam and to go through a thorough assessment of his drinking condition so that he could start an alcohol abuse or alcoholism rehabilitation program in a realistic time frame.
Mail this postHeather is a sixty-four-year-old woman who is the top administrator in the human resources department at a large silver molding company. To help reduce the costs correlated with excessive sick days, increasing absenteeism, poor employee work performance, employee alcoholism and alcohol abuse, and work related injuries, Heather and the other members of upper management instituted a number of programs that made the work atmosphere substantially more productive, healthy, and safe.
For example, fourteen years ago Heather and the other company leaders instituted an Employee’s Assistance Program so that all the workers had access to first-rate counseling for their personal problems that could negatively influence their personal well-being, health, and their work performance.
Top Management Constructs a State-of-the-Art Exercise and Workout Room Complete With Exercise Equipment, Scales, a Professional Trainer During Business Hours, Mirrors, Weights, and Exercise Charts
As another illustration, about eight years ago Heather and the other company executives erected a forward-looking exercise and workout room complete with weights, many different types of exercise equipment, a professional trainer during business hours, exercise charts, mirrors, and scales.
Moreover, just about five years ago Heather and the other members of upper management invested in a purification system that filters all the drinking water that is accessible in the building. In a similar way, three years ago, Heather and the other VIPs started a “walking club” that is basically intended for workers who want to work on their cardiovascular system.
The Company Executives Launch a Weight-Watchers Class and Employ a Weight-Loss Trainer to Manage the Program
As another example, about two years ago, Heather and the other members of top management put into operation a “Weight-Watchers” class that presently meets every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 4:30 PM until 5:50 PM. Furthermore, top management employed a weight-loss professional to oversee the program.
In the same way, two years ago Heather and the other members of top management instituted a “Stop Smoking Club” for workers who want to refrain from smoking.
In the last nine months, in conjunction with the Employee’s Assistance Program, Heather and the other company leaders initiated an “Anger Management” class for workers who want to learn how to better manage their anger issues.
The VIPs Initiate a Drug and Alcohol Testing Program
In the last three-and-a-half months, Heather and the other company executives put into operation a drug and alcohol testing program that is related to their drug and alcohol abuse prevention program. In actual fact, Heather is the key person in the company responsible for getting the message out to all the employees about the drug and alcohol testing program as well as the drug and alcohol abuse prevention program.
One of the main elements of the drug and alcohol abuse prevention program is a class entitled “Alcoholism and Depression” that meets every Wednesday after work. The main idea with this class is informing workers that abusive drinking and depression many times occur in the same person. It is hoped that comprehending this information will be able to help a person address both medical problems and get the alcohol rehabilitation and mental health therapy he or she needs.
Top Management Initiates an Alcohol Statistics and Facts Class
Another fairly recent enhancement to the drug and alcohol abuse prevention program is a class entitled “Alcohol Statistics and Facts.” The rationale behind this alcohol statistics and facts class is the reality that many individuals fail to appreciate the full impact of the results of alcohol abuse and alcoholism without first learning about some of the alcohol abuse and alcoholism facts and statistics that are available. Consequently, one of the objectives of this class is to provide various alcoholism and alcohol abuse facts and statistics to help workers gain a better realization of the host of problems that are linked to excessive and abusive drinking and how they can prevent these difficulties from coming about.
Most recently, Heather and the other company leaders, via comments from employees, developed a class that focuses directly on severe drinking entitled “What is Alcoholism”? This what is alcoholism class meets every Thursday morning an hour before work and focuses largely on the differences between alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency and the different kinds of rehab that are available for people who drink in an abusive manner.
Although every single one of these preventative maintenance and health programs was relatively expensive, top management reasons that they are several thousands of dollars ahead by providing all of their employees with healthy, more productive, and safe working conditions.
Mail this postTeresa was a forty-five-year-old insurance agent who knew that she had some drinking issues. For example, within the past month she has felt the need to have a drink or two before going to work, four months ago she failed to pass a random urine alcohol test where she works, five weeks ago she got stopped by the police for a DWI, and finally, for going on six months she has started to fail to remember what she says and does when she goes out drinking with her friends.
Like hosts of other people, Teresa’s experiences with alcohol began gradually and stayed at this speed for quite a long time due to the fact once in a “blue moon” she engaged in intermittent social drinking. In truth, for about four years, every time she drank, she made sure to drink in moderation. Something about her drinking behavior, nevertheless, seemed to completely change when she got divorced.
So She Can Come to Terms With the Divorce of Her Husband With Less Grief, Teresa Came to the Conclusion That She Will Start Hanging Around More Repeatedly With Some of Her Pals Who Love to Have Fun and Drink
Teresa got exceedingly “down” about the loss of her husband, and as a way to refrain from dwelling on her negative emotions she determined that she would start hanging around more often with some of her buddies who love to have fun and drink.
Quite forthrightly, Teresa believed that having fun almost every day by partying and drinking with her pals would help her get beyond the divorce of her husband with less grief.
Teresa’s Drinking Escalates Significantly the More Habitually She Goes to Private Parties, Family Get-Togethers, Dinner Dates, Sporting Events, and Happy Hours With Her Buddies
It didn’t take long, however, before her drinking escalated to a significant degree the more routinely she went to and drank at family get-togethers, sporting events, happy hours, dinner dates, and private parties with her pals. Moreover, the fact that her drinking friends were all quite a few years younger than she was and therefore able to drink and party more thoughtlessly was one of the reasons that she didn’t concentrate more on her increased drinking. In a word, she was drinking and having fun just like everyone else in her group of friends without much forethought about the negative effects of her hazardous and irresponsible drinking.
Yet somewhere in her awareness she knew that she probably needed alcohol counseling but stayed away from the thought as much as possible.
Teresa Gets a Physical Examination, Discloses the Facts About Her Excessive Drinking to Her Healthcare Practitioner, and Discloses the Truth About Her Depression
One afternoon during her annual physical, her doctor asked her if she drank alcohol. Not wanting to lie to her healthcare practitioner, Teresa acknowledged that she regularly drinks more than she should. In fact, she said that she commonly drinks in a hazardous manner. Then Teresa told her healthcare professional about her sadness. More specifically, she stated that shattered relationships usually elicited a negative cycle of events characterized by increased drinking which further resulted in more discouraging feelings that, in turn, led to more drinking. And this is explicitly what happened when she and her husband got divorced three months ago.
When her doctor heard this, he told Teresa that according to various facts and statistics on alcoholism he has been exploring, alcoholism and depression routinely arise in the same person. He then told Teresa that some of the alcohol statistics, facts, and research investigations he has been reading about also underscore the fact that people who drink in a hazardous and abusive manner and who also experience depression need to get treatment for both medical circumstances.
Teresa’s Healthcare Practitioner Schedules an Appointment for a Psychological Assessment and For an Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Evaluation
Teresa’s healthcare professional then told her the following: “I am not trying to make an impulsive analysis, but with your medical condition we may be facing two separate problems. As a consequence, I think we should make an appointment for you to get an alcohol abuse and alcoholism assessment from my partner, Dr. Warner, who is a substance abuse and chemical dependency specialist. Whether your drinking circumstance is more related to alcoholism or alcohol abuse is not clear at this time, but I think that further exploration is needed. Then I feel we probably should schedule an appointment for you to get a psychological exam from another one of my partners, Dr. Myers, who is a clinical psychologist. I want to get a better understanding about your pessimism and see how much your drinking and depression are interrelated.” Teresa displayed her agreement with her healthcare practitioner’s strategy and thanked him for his time and assistance. Now all she had to do was to try to cut back on her drinking and get ready for her appointments.
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