Build Your Body

Larry was a sixteen year old high school sophomore who was manifesting several alcohol-related difficulties at school. For that reason, the principal informed him that he had to see Miss Johns, the school therapist, before he would be permitted to come back to school.

Later that afternoon when Larry went home after school, he had to clarify his school situation to his parents. His Mom and Dad were “relatively conventional” and told Larry that getting thrown out of school was not a feasible educational game plan. They informed Larry that failing to graduate from high school would more likely than not be like a lead weight around his ankles that might encumber his educational aspirations for the rest of his adult life. In addition, Larry’s Mother and Father were quite disturbed that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his pals in the second.

His parents explained to Larry that although he may be a teen, he needs to comprehend fairly swiftly that drinking is the road to financial problems, pain, failure, and ill health.

It was plain to see that his Mother and Father were completely in agreement with Larry’s principal and informed Larry that he had better make plans to see Miss Johns, the school therapist. After his dialogue with his Mom and Dad, Larry in due course agreed to see Miss Johns the next school day. So Larry phoned the school and made an appointment to see Miss Johns the next day during his second period class.

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

When Larry got to his scheduled appointment with Miss Johns, she without pause examined all of the alcohol-related difficulties Larry had experienced and asked him if he comprehended why his recent alcohol-related activities caused quite a bit of apprehension by the school administrators.

Quite truthfully, Larry questioned why the principal explained to him that he had to see a school therapist. As he expressed to Miss Johns, why should he see a professional counselor about his drinking situation? In view of the fact that just about all of his classmates drink the same amount that he does, primarily, drinking shouldn’t be such a big issue. Stated more precisely, if almost everyone 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 classmates introduced him to drinking wine coolers when he was twelve or thirteen years old and in the seventh grade.

Miss Johns explained to Larry that while his classmates 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 thrown out of school due to alcohol-related delinquency, absenteeism, and fighting, not his pals. What is more, Miss Johns also underlined the fact that Larry, and not his pals, is the one who is failing and who is missing at least two days of class every week due to his alcohol related problems. Finally, Miss Johns highlighted the fact that because of his drinking circumstances, Larry is getting into a dangerous cycle of hazardous drinking that can eventually wreck his dreams, hopes, and aspirations.

In a word, Larry’s involvement with youth alcohol abuse was starting to thwart his ability to behave like a responsible young man. As put into words by Miss Johns, “Just because most of your peers drink wine, beer, hard liquor, or wine coolers does not mean that it is the healthiest thing in the world for you.”

Larry Learns That Eventually He Must Claim Responsibility For Himself In Order to Keep Away From Unhealthy, Dangerous, Destructive, and Damaging Situations In the Future

Miss Johns told Larry that one’s peers can indeed influence an individual in an unhealthy way, but that the individual herself or himself has to in the end claim responsibility for himself or herself in order to steer clear of unhealthy, dangerous, damaging, and destructive effects in the future.

Fortunately, Miss Johns was very well equipped for her appointment with Larry. She showed him research studies and reports she had highlighted that outlined diverse drinking facts and statistics that applied to most people in general. Then she showed Larry quite a lot of figures and reports that applied principally to teens.

For example, Miss Johns emphasized the difference between alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency and explained to Larry that individuals who continue to drink in an excessive manner commonly become dependent on alcohol.

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

The Therapist Conveys A Number Alcohol Addiction and Alcohol Abuse Statistics and Facts

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

1. As demonstrated by the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, there are 105,000 yearly alcohol-related deaths in the U.S. because of inebriated drivers and related injuries, diseases, or medical conditions.

2. Roughly 25% of all U.S. people who are admitted to general hospitals have alcohol problems or are undiagnosed individuals who are addicted to alcohol who are being treated for the consequences of their excessive drinking.

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

4. More than 7 percent of the population that is 18 years old and older — almost 13.8 million Americans — has problems with drinking, 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. According to one U.S. research study of 18 to 24 year-old current drinkers who did not complete high school, about sixty percent began to drink before the age of 16.

7. Currently, almost 14 million Americans, 1 in every 13 adults, are dependent on 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 display alcohol abuse or alcoholism.

Larry Gets A Meaningful Jolt of Reality About the Short Term and the Long Term Effects of Underage Alcohol Addiction and Alcohol Abuse

After Miss Johns verbalized the aforementioned alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse facts and statistics, it was plain to see 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 explain the short term and the long term outcomes of alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency, but she also made the effort to authenticate what she was saying with alcoholism and alcohol abuse facts and statistics that related to everyone, and chiefly to adolescents.

Definitely, it was almost as if a light went on and Larry instantaneously realized why he should not be engaging in excessive and hazardous drinking with or without his peers anymore. Larry thanked Miss Johns for her concern and for the material she presented.

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

Larry thought about this for few minutes and then agreed to get a thorough physical exam and to go through a thorough assessment of his drinking condition so that he could start an alcohol abuse or alcohol dependency rehab program as reasonable as possible.