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Posts Tagged ‘alcohol abuse statistics’

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Dante was a eighteen year old high school senior who was exhibiting quite a few alcohol-related issues at school. Therefore, the principal explained to him that he had to see Miss Johnson, the school psychologist, before he would be allowed to return to school.

Later that afternoon when Dante went home after school, he had to explain his school discharge to his parents. His Mother and Father were “relatively traditional” and told Dante that getting removed from school was not a doable educational option. They told Dante that failing to graduate from high school would most probably be like a lead weight around his legs that could probably hinder his educational attainment for the rest of his adult life. In addition, Dante’s parents were very distraught that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his buddies in the second.

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

It was evident that his Mother and Father were absolutely in accord with Dante’s principal and told Dante that he had better come to the understanding that he needs to see Miss Johnson, the school psychologist. After his dialogue with his parents, Dante finally agreed to see Miss Johnson the next school day. So Dante phoned the school and scheduled an appointment to see Miss Johnson the next day during lunch.

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

When Dante went to see Miss Johnson, she promptly looked at all of the alcohol-related problems Dante had experienced and asked him if he understood why his recent alcohol-related behavior signaled such alarm.

Quite sincerely, 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 counselor about his drinking activities? Due to the fact that just about all of his pals drink the same amount that he does, essentially, drinking shouldn’t be such a big deal. Stated more explicitly, if just about everybody is drinking, why is this such a big thing?

Miss Johnson asked Dante when he started to drink alcoholic beverages. He said that some of his older buddies introduced him to drinking wine coolers when he was twelve or thirteen years old and in the seventh grade.

Miss Johnson told Dante that while his classmates may in fact drink more than he does and that they may be an unhealthy influence on him, the facts are that he is the one who is getting suspended from school due to alcohol-related absenteeism, fighting, and delinquency, not his peers. What is more, Miss Johnson also highlighted the fact that Dante, and not his peers, is the one who is failing and who is missing at least one day of school per week because of his alcohol related issues. Finally, Miss Johnson emphasized the fact that because of his drinking activities, Dante is getting into a dangerous cycle of alcohol abuse that can in time ruin his dreams, hopes, and aspirations.

In short, Dante’s involvement with youth alcohol abuse was starting to thwart his ability to function as an accountable young man. As verbalized by Miss Johnson, “Just because most of your classmates drink wine coolers, wine, beer, or hard liquor does not mean that it is the right thing to do for you.”

Dante Learns That Sooner or Later He Must Be Responsible For Himself In Order to Keep Away From Dangerous, Damaging, Destructive, and Unhealthy Effects Down the Road

Miss Johnson informed Dante that one’s buddies can unquestionably influence an individual in a negative way, but that the person herself or himself has to ultimately claim responsibility for herself or himself in order to steer clear of damaging, destructive, dangerous, and unhealthy effects in the future.

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

As an illustration, Miss Johnson explained the difference between alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction and informed Dante that drinkers who continue to drink abusively habitually become alcoholic.

Miss Johnson also explained the concept of binge drinking that 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 States More Than a Few Alcohol Addiction and Alcohol Abuse Facts and Statistics

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

1. According to the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, there are 105,000 annual alcohol-related fatalities in the U.S. due to inebriated drivers and related medical conditions, injuries, or diseases.

2. Around twenty-five percent of all U.S. people who register in general hospitals have alcohol problems or are undiagnosed individuals who are addicted to alcohol who are being treated for the consequences of their irresponsible drinking.

3. Alcohol dependency and alcohol abuse are the third leading cause of preventable fatalities 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 individuals who suffer from alcohol addiction.

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

6. As revealed by one U.S. research study of 18 to 24 year-old current drinkers who failed to complete high school, about 60% started to drink before they were sixteen years old.

7. Currently, roughly 14 million Americans, 1 in every 13 adults, are alcoholic or abuse alcohol.

8. According to the research literature, non-alcoholic members of alcoholic’s families use ten times as much sick leave as families who do not display alcohol problems.

Dante Receives An Important Jolt of Reality About the Long Term and the Short Term Results of Teenage Alcohol Addiction and Alcohol Abuse

After Miss Johnson stated the aforementioned alcoholism and alcohol abuse statistics and facts, it was clear that what Miss Johnson made known to Dante was a real shock to him. Why? Because for the first time in his young life, someone not only made the effort to give an explanation of the short term and the long term results of alcohol abuse and alcoholism, but she also made the effort to corroborate what she was saying with alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction statistics and facts that related to everyone in general, and principally to underage drinkers.

To be sure, it was almost as if a light went on and Dante immediately realized why he should not be engaging in abusive and excessive drinking with or without his pals 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 exam and an alcohol evaluation for the alcohol abuse or alcoholism treatment he would probably need.

Dante thought about this for few minutes and then agreed to get a complete physical exam and to go through a comprehensive appraisal of his drinking situation so that he could start an alcohol abuse or alcohol addiction rehab program without pause.

Recent alcohol abuse statistics reveal that alcohol abuse among teens is increasing in the United States. What are some of the reasons for this? Many substance abuse authorities state that liquor, wine, and beer advertisements generated by the media are an important reason for the spread of teen alcohol abuse.

Other chemical dependency professionals emphasize the point 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 specialists affirm that more than a few of our teens involve themselves in excessive drinking due to the increased anxiety that they feel.

From a slightly different vantage point, because both parents in quite a few families work, the lack of parental supervision clearly has to play an essential role in the escalation of teenage alcohol abuse. And finally, diverse alcohol addiction experts stress the point that the rise in youth alcohol abuse is due, at some level, to our lenient society.

Coping Skills and Excessive Drinking

One feature of teen alcohol abuse that looks as if it lacking in the substance abuse research findings, alternatively, is the paucity of educational courses that teach students how to augment their coping skills so that their hazardous drinking behavior is notably lessened or exterminated.

Stated differently, scientific research has revealed that there is an indirect connection between poor coping skills and excessive drinking. For all intents and purposes, this means that the worse the coping skills, the greater the occurrence of alcohol abuse. To the degree that this is a truthful statement, why isn’t coping skills education a primary part of the academic prospectus in all of our high schools, junior high schools, and elementary schools?

A Society That Puts Emphasis On Youth Coping Skills

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

In such a society, when life gets complicated, individuals who are “coping skills masters” will be able to respond in a more healthy and more rewarding manner, as opposed to others who are unsuccessful in their attempts to put their coping skills into action.

Stated more precisely, students who show evidence of solid coping skills will be more able to think proactively and demonstrate first-class decision making as opposed to teens who, because they were unsuccessful in their attempts to develop top quality coping skills, are drawn to the “quick fix” of abusive drinking.

What would happen in the above “ideal” society, additionally, if students not only got first class coping skills instruction but also received a top shelf education that stressed the long term and short term damaging costs associated with drug abuse and alcohol abuse? Emphasizing these types of drug and alcohol abuse facts, along with more advanced coping skills education, it is pronounced, would help teens keep away from the clear fascination with underage drinking and, for that reason, would substantially lessen the hazardous drinking behavior displayed by the youth in our country.

Adolescent Excessive Drinking: Conclusion

There are clearly numerous legitimate reasons why so many of our teens drink in an abusive manner. Such a knotty subject matter demands a far-reaching and more applicable preventative and educational response by our educators, parents, politicians, and students so that our teens can learn how to cope with life’s problems in a more rewarding and accountable manner rather than gravitating to destructive drinking behavior to solve their difficulties.

Dante was a eighteen year old high school senior who was exhibiting a number of alcohol-related problems at school. Consequently, the principal informed him that he had to see Miss Johnson, the school therapist, before he would be permitted to come back to class.

Later that afternoon when Dante went home after school, he had to clarify his school expulsion to his parents. His Mom and Dad were “fairly conventional” and explained to Dante that getting removed from school was not a satisfactory 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 may inhibit his educational achievement for the rest of his life. In addition, Dante’s Mom and Dad were extremely dismayed that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his pals in the second.

They told Dante that although he may be young, he has to comprehend rather quickly that drinking is the map to ill health, failure, pain, and financial problems.

It was clear that his Mother and Father were out and out in full concurrence with Dante’s principal and explained to Dante that he had better make plans to see Miss Johnson, the school counselor. After his dialogue with his Mom and Dad, Dante eventually agreed to see Miss Johnson the next school day. So Dante phoned the school and made an appointment to see Miss Johnson the next day during his first period class.

The Counselor Asks Dante if He Understands Why His Recent Alcohol-Related Actions Caused Quite a Bit of Concern By the School Administrators

When Dante went to see Miss Johnson, she at once went over all of the alcohol-related issues Dante had experienced and asked him if he comprehended why his recent alcohol-related behavior signaled such alarm.

Quite sincerely, Dante was not sure why the principal told him he had to see a school counselor. As he stated to Miss Johnson, why should he see a professional therapist about his drinking circumstances? Due to the fact that virtually all of his pals drink as much if not more than he does, basically, drinking shouldn’t be such a big thing. Stated more forcefully, if just about everyone is drinking, why is this such a big deal?

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 in the seventh grade.

Miss Johnson informed Dante that while his classmates may in fact drink more than 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. Furthermore, Miss Johnson also emphasized the fact that Dante, and not his classmates, is the one who is failing and who is missing at least one day of school every week due to his alcohol related difficulties. Finally, Miss Johnson emphasized the fact that because of his drinking activities, Dante is getting into a damaging cycle of abusive drinking that can sooner or later destroy his aspirations, hopes, and dreams.

In a word, Dante’s involvement with youth alcohol abuse was beginning to short-circuit his ability to act like an accountable young man. As stated by Miss Johnson, “Just because most of your buddies drink wine coolers, beer, hard liquor, or wine does not mean that it is the right thing to do for you.”

Dante Learns That Eventually He Must Claim Responsibility For Himself In Order to Prevent Destructive, Unhealthy, Dangerous, and Damaging Outcomes In the Foreseeable Future

Miss Johnson informed Dante that other individuals can undeniably influence a person in a negative manner, but that the person himself or herself has to in the end take responsibility for herself or himself in order to avert damaging, dangerous, unhealthy, and destructive consequences in the foreseeable future.

Fortunately, Miss Johnson was well equipped for her scheduled meeting with Dante. She showed him reports and research studies she had highlighted that listed various drinking facts and statistics that applied to most people in general. Then she showed Dante a lot of figures and reports that applied chiefly to teenagers.

For instance, Miss Johnson underscored the difference between alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction and informed Dante that drinkers who continue to drink in a hazardous manner regularly become alcohol dependent.

Miss Johnson also went over the concept of binge drinking which 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 Therapist Verbalizes Numerous Alcohol Addiction and Alcohol Abuse Facts and Statistics

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

1. The 25.9% of teenage drinkers in the United States who are alcohol abusers and alcohol dependent drink 47.3% of the alcohol that is consumed by all teenage drinkers.

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

3. In 2002, U.S. alcohol addiction statistics and facts revealed 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 United States between the ages of 14 to 17 are problem drinkers.

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 rehabilitation they require.

7. Teenage 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 issues are unevenly found among both juvenile and adult criminal offenders.

Dante Gets A Much Needed Wake Up Call Concerning the Long Term and the Short Term Outcomes of Teenage Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Dependency

After Miss Johnson went over the aforementioned alcohol abuse and alcoholism facts and statistics, it was apparent 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 made the effort to go over the short term and the long term results of alcoholism and alcohol abuse, but she also took the time to validate what she was saying with alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction statistics and facts that related to everybody in general, and particularly to teenagers.

In actual fact, it was almost as if a light went on and Dante promptly grasped why he should not be engaging in hazardous and abusive 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 evaluation for the alcohol abuse or alcohol addiction rehab he would probably need.

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