Teen Alcohol Abuse: A Serious Problem

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 alcohol dependency consultants stress the point that alcohol ads produced by the media are a primary reason for the rise in teen alcohol abuse.

Other chemical dependency authorities argue that the increase in youth alcohol abuse is due to the toleration and ease of access of alcohol in our society.

Still other alcoholism experts believe that numerous adolescents engage in dangerous drinking due to the increased fretfulness that they are subjected to.

From a somewhat different perspective, because both parents in a number of families are gainfully employed, the lack of parental supervision obviously has to play a major role in the expansion of teenage alcohol abuse. And as a final point, various chemical dependency professionals assert that the escalation of youth alcohol abuse is due, in some degree, to our “anything goes” society.

Excessive Drinking and Coping Skills Education

One facet of youth alcohol abuse that appears to be lacking in the alcoholism research findings, conversely, is the lack of educational programs that teach adolescents how to augment their coping skills so that their injurious drinking behavior is radically decreased or gotten rid of.

Stated more precisely, science has uncovered the fact that there is an indirect connection between poor coping skills and abusive drinking. Fundamentally, this means that the more mediocre the coping skills, the higher the prevalence of alcohol abuse. To the extent that this is an accurate allegation , why isn’t coping skills training a major part of the educational curriculum in all of our junior high schools, elementary schools, and high schools?

A Society That Puts Emphasis On Youth Coping Skills

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

In such a society, when life gets challenging, individuals who are “coping skills masters” will be able to respond in a healthier and more creative way, as opposed to others who are unsuccessful in their attempts to apply their coping skills.

Stated more precisely, students who demonstrate superior coping skills will be more able to think logically and show signs of first-class decision making as opposed to teenagers who, because they were unsuccessful in their attempts to implement first-rate coping skills, gravitate to the “quick fix” of excessive drinking.

What would happen in the above “ideal” society, what’s more, if adolescents not only received exceptional coping skills education but also obtained an exceptional education that focused on the short term and long term destructive consequences associated with drug abuse and alcohol abuse? Such an emphasis on drug and alcohol abuse facts, along with more advanced coping skills training, it is advocated, would help adolescents keep away from the apparent allure of teen drinking and, accordingly, would notably reduce the excessive drinking behavior undertaken by the youth in our country.

Teen Alcohol Abuse: Conclusion

There are indubitably a number of convincing reasons why so many of our teens abuse alcohol. Such a tricky predicament demands a wide-ranging and more applicable educational and preventative response by our educators, politicians, parents, and students so that our teenagers can learn how to cope with life’s predicaments in a more productive and responsible manner rather than gravitating to abusive drinking behavior to solve their difficulties.

A Fretful High School Student Exhibits Quite a Few Alcohol-Related Issues, Gets Suspended From School, and Has to See the School Therapist

Dante was a fifteen year old high school sophomore who was exhibiting several alcohol-related problems at school. Therefore, the principal informed him that he had to see Miss Johnson, the school counselor, before he would be permitted to return to class.

Later that day when Dante went home after school, he had to clarify his school discharge to his Mother and Father. His parents were “old school” and informed Dante that getting removed from school was not a doable educational plan of action. They explained to Dante that failing to graduate from high school would more likely than not be like a lead weight around his feet that could probably hinder his educational aspirations for the rest of his life. In addition, Dante’s parents were very dismayed that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his peers in the second.

His parents informed Dante that although he may be a teenager, he needs to understand fairly swiftly that drinking is the path to financial problems, pain, failure, and ill health.

It was obvious that his Mom and Dad were on the same page as Dante’s principal and explained to Dante that he needs to see Miss Johnson, the school therapist. After his dialogue with his Mom and Dad, Dante eventually 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 second period class.

The Counselor Asks Dante if He Comprehends Why His Recent Alcohol-Related Activities Made the School Administrators Uneasy

When Dante got to his scheduled appointment with Miss Johnson, she promptly surveyed all of the alcohol-related problems Dante had experienced and asked him if he comprehended why his recent alcohol-related behavior caused quite a bit of concern by the school administrators.

Quite truthfully, Dante questioned why the principal informed him that 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 just about all of his classmates drink as much if not more than he does, essentially, drinking shouldn’t be such a big thing. Stated differently, if just about everyone is drinking, why is this such a major problem?

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

Miss Johnson informed Dante that while his buddies 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 kicked out of school due to alcohol-related absenteeism, fighting, and delinquency, not his friends. Not only this but Miss Johnson also underscored the fact that Dante, 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 Johnson underlined the fact that because of his drinking circumstances, Dante is getting into a damaging cycle of hazardous drinking that can finally destroy his dreams, hopes, and aspirations.

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

Dante Learns That In the Long Run He Must Claim Responsibility For Himself In Order to Avoid Unhealthy, Dangerous, Destructive, and Damaging Circumstances In the Foreseeable Future

Miss Johnson told Dante that one’s pals can indeed influence an individual in a negative way, but that the individual herself or himself has to in due course be accountable for herself or himself in order to avert unhealthy, damaging, dangerous, and destructive consequences in the future.

Luckily, Miss Johnson was well prepared for her scheduled appointment with Dante. She showed him research studies and reports she had highlighted that summarized diverse drinking statistics and facts that targeted most people in general. Then she showed Dante quite a lot of data that applied particularly to teens.

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

Miss Johnson also discussed 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 Psychologist Articulates Numerous Alcohol Addiction and Alcohol Abuse Facts and Statistics

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

1. Alcohol is a contributing factor in almost 50% 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 youth under the age of 21 lose their lives as a result of underage drinking. This includes nearly 1,900 deaths from motor vehicle crashes.

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

5. Roughly 1,700 college students in the U.S. are killed annually–about 4.65 a day–because 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 involve themselves in drinking while driving.

7. The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 76 million individuals throughout the world suffer from disorders that are related to alcohol addiction or alcohol abuse.

8. As shown by recent drug and alcohol abuse studies, it has been discovered that approximately 53% of the adults in the U.S. have reported that one or more of their close family members is an alcohol abuser or is dependent on alcohol.

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

After Miss Johnson went over the aforementioned alcohol dependency and alcohol abuse facts and statistics, it was clear that what Miss Johnson taught Dante was a wake up call for him. Why? Because for the first time in his young life, someone not only took the time to go over the short term and the long term consequences of alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction, but she also made the effort to substantiate what she was saying with alcohol abuse and alcoholism facts and statistics that related to everybody in general, and mainly to underage drinkers.

Undeniably, it was almost as if a light went on and Dante instantaneously grasped why he should not be engaging in hazardous and abusive drinking with or without his pals anymore. Dante thanked Miss Johnson for her concern and for the information she reviewed.

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

Dante thought about this for a minute and then agreed to get a thorough physical and to go through a comprehensive appraisal of his drinking behavior so that he could start an alcohol abuse or alcoholism treatment program in a practical time frame.

What I Learned About Drug Addiction and Alcohol Dependency in High School

When I was a sophomore in high school, I registered for a drug abuse class. At that time, I did not grasp the fact that alcohol abuse in reality was a sub classification of drug abuse. While taking this class and learning more about drug and alcohol abuse and especially about alcohol side effects, I read a lot about Alcoholic Anonymous, their meetings, how their programs have twelve steps, and how successful the Alcoholics Anonymous recovery program has been for people all over the world. I also learned a lot about alcohol treatment and the various alcohol rehab clinics that are commonly available to abusive drinkers.

Damaging Effects That are Linked to Alcohol Addiction and Alcohol Abuse

Some of the injurious results correlated with alcoholism and alcohol abuse that I learned about in this class absolutely frightened me. The ruined lives and frequent serious issues experienced by most alcohol dependent people made me feel like I never wanted to drink alcohol when I became old enough. In a word, I did not want to face the wreckage and destruction that alcohol addicted individuals almost always encounter.

Reflect on this for a moment. What fifteen-year-old person wants to face premature death due to his or her drinking behavior? What young person wants to become so out-of-control regarding his or her drinking that ingesting alcohol becomes the object of one’s life? What teenager wants to go to one of the local alcoholic rehabilitation centers to deal with alcohol-related issues before he or she becomes twenty-one?

What youth wants to experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms when he or she tries to stop drinking? Why would a person engage in drinking to such an extent that it would cause difficulties in every area of his or her life? Drinking later in life after a person has a career, a family, and develops personal responsibilities makes sense. But why would a teenager want to sacrifice his or her education, employment, finances, and relationships for a life that revolves around excessive drinking?

These issues were so important that I discussed some of them in class during the school year. What was absolutely unbelievable to me was the number of students who simply didn’t care about the harmful consequences of abusive drinking that I discussed. It was almost as if they couldn’t be bothered with reality and how these outcomes can ruin their lives. For the first time in my life I started to comprehend a saying that my grandfather used to say to me throughout my youth: you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink.

It’s Important, Energizing, and Beneficial to Keep Yourself From the Unhealthy and Damaging Consequences of Alcohol and Drug Abuse

And even at my young age, I also began to understand how beneficial, important, and energizing it is in life to keep away from the damaging and unhealthy consequences of alcohol and drug abuse.

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