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The Alcohol Related Problems, Depression and Mental Health Issues, and Alcohol Related Deaths That Are Associated With Irresponsible and Hazardous Drinking
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Paula

How many children are born each year with fetal alcohol syndrome? How many people experience alcohol related mental health problems like depression? How many people’s lives are cut short due to excessive and abusive drinking? How many people get injured or lose their lives in alcohol related traffic accidents every year? How many individuals lose their lives every year because of drinking problems? How many junior high, high school, and college students lose their lives every year due to an alcohol overdose? How many people are the victims of alcohol related crime or violence each and every year? How many people face serious consequences in their lives because they received a DUI conviction? How many people die each year from a condition that is totally preventable, such as alcohol poisoning? On an annual basis, how many alcoholics fail to get the professional alcohol treatment they need?

Why Would Anyone Want to Drink in an Abusive and Hazardous Manner?

So what’s the point in asking these questions? Basically to highlight the destructive and devastating nature of abusive drinking. Indeed, and based on the above questions, I wonder why anyone would choose to drink in an excessive and abusive manner.

Stated a different way, with the host of financial issues, relationship dilemmas, legal proceedings, employment difficulties, and health problems that are linked to chronic alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction, why would any person with any sense at all want to drink in an irresponsible and abusive manner? In fact when some of the above topics are looked at more closely, careless and abusive drinking becomes more illogical and makes even less sense.

Wouldn’t you think that alcoholics would be able to see some of the alcohol symptoms that they manifest? In a similar manner doesn’t it seem plausible to think that many more families would involve themselves in an alcohol intervention for the individual in the household who is an alcohol abuser or an alcoholic? What is more, wouldn’t you think that people who drink irresponsibly would try to learn more about their drinking behavior by reading about various alcohol related statistics?

After reviewing the alcohol abuse and alcoholism research literature, the point is so critical that it needs to be said again: With all of the destructive and disastrous consequences that are directly or indirectly associated with continuous and repetitive alcoholism and alcohol abuse, why would any person want to engage in excessive and abusive drinking?

What Can be Done About the Widespread Nature of Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Dependency in Our Country?

So what can be done about the extensive nature of alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction in the United States?

  1. Our students need more relevant and more meaningful educational and preventative methods and approaches so that more students at all grade levels, including those at college, are “reached.
  2. With a similar line of reasoning, our students need to learn how to become problem solvers in life rather than getting easily attracted to the “instant gratification” and the “quick fix” of an alcohol or drug abuse “buzz” or “high”.
  3. Individuals who are alcohol abusers or alcohol addicts need to look look at themselves honestly and ask why they are not getting the professional alcohol rehabilitation they require.
  4. Society needs to get the message to more people about the unhealthy and debilitating outcomes of abusive and hazardous drinking.

There’s Room For Optimism if Those Who Engage in Abusive and Unhealthy Drinking Can Become Persuaded to Get the Alcohol Treatment They Need

There’s room for optimism and hope if individuals can start drinking in moderation and those who engage in unhealthy and abusive drinkingcan become encouraged to get the alcohol treatment they need. Indeed, why put your loved ones through pain, suffering, and turmoil because of your abusive and careless drinking when you have the power to control your life by drinking responsibly or even quitting drinking if you cannot control your drinking?

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A Health Teacher in the Most Financially Challenged Co-Educational High School in the County Teaches Her Pupils About the Significance of Alcohol Dependency Signs
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Paula

Miss Benning was a health teacher at the most financially challenged co-ed high school in the state. Although she had been teaching for only three years, she had already secured a reputation as an instructor with educational approaches that motivated and encouraged pupils to learn and to think.

For instance, one Tuesday afternoon at 2:00 she addressed the students in her classroom and stated the following: “For the next three or four days we are going to learn about some basic alcoholism facts from a general point of view and we are also going to learn about some of the most familiar signs of alcoholism from a more specific viewpoint.

Not all of these alcoholism signs will categorically reveal that a drinker with a drinking problem is a person who is alcohol dependent, but the more signs that an individual exhibits, the stronger the probability that he or she is an individual who is alcohol dependent.”

Miss Benning then explained to the members of the class that each pupil would be accountable for investigating two alcohol dependence signs and then presenting his or her conclusions to the rest of the class via a five minute oral presentation.

The Students are Energized About Giving A Detailed Presentation to Their Fellow Pupils About Alcoholism Signs

After learning about the diverse signs of alcohol addiction for a number of days, the time had arrived for the oral presentations. It was at once noticeable that her pupils were energized about the subject matter because the material that they presented was exceptional. To say that Miss Benning was pleasantly surprised with the fervor manifested by the students in her classroom regarding this subject could not be overstated.

The day after all of the students completed their presentations, Miss Benning passed out a piece of paper with a list of all the alcoholism signs that were presented and discussed in the presentations and in class. Miss Benning then asked the students in her class to study the list and rank the top seven alcoholism signs that were most indicative of alcoholism. After roughly fifteen minutes, Miss Benning collected the sheets of paper and informed her pupils that after she tallies the numbers, she will present her findings the next school day.

There was some real anticipation by the pupils while they were exiting Miss Benning’s classroom. One could swear that her students couldn’t wait for the next day to come so that they could learn about the outcome of their in-class research.

The Students Contrast Their Answers With the Evaluations From A Panel of Substance Abuse Authorities

When the next school day finally came, Miss Benning gave out a piece of paper that listed the top three alcohol dependency signs according to the students’ rankings. To the left of these results, she included another column that was labeled “correct answer.” She then explained to the students in her classroom that the numbers in the new column she added signified the answers that were constructed by a group of drug and alcohol addiction authorities.

Miss Benning told the pupils in her classroom to look over the information on the piece of paper she passed out and then to raise their hand if they had any concerns, questions, or issues. Within a minute or two, almost everyone in the classroom raised his or her hand. It was obvious that the pupils had some concerns, questions, or issues about their results versus the answers given by the specialists. For instance, almost every individual in the classroom disagreed with the highest ranked answer given by the specialists, to be precise, “Do you feel really ill when you stop drinking?”

The Chief Difference Between Alcohol Dependency and Alcohol Abuse is the Physical Addiction That is Experienced With Alcoholism and Not With Alcohol Abuse

Miss Benning then told the students in her class why this answer was the most accurate indicator of alcoholism. She pointed out that the primary difference between alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction is the physical dependency that is experienced with alcohol addiction and not with alcohol abuse.

Essentially this means that when a person who is alcohol dependent suddenly quits drinking, he or she will suffer through alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

Miss Benning then told the students in her class that alcohol withdrawal symptoms are responses by the body and by the brain to the lack of alcohol to which they had become acclimated. Stated more precisely, alcohol withdrawal symptoms are messages from the body and from the brain telling an individual who is alcohol dependent that something is very incorrect and needs to be fixed. These signals consist of several dangerous, uncomfortable, and painful withdrawal symptoms that can potentially result in a loss of life if the proper treatment is not promptly received.

Miss Benning then discussed the many different alcohol withdrawal symptoms that can be gone through when an individual who is addicted to alcohol abruptly quits drinking.

The fact that Miss Benning tried to underscore was this: an individual who engages in alcohol abuse can experience almost any and every one of the alcoholism signs that the students had ranked, but the one sign or symptom that few, if any, alcohol abusers ever experience is alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

To articulate this as plainly as possible, Miss Benning stressed the point that alcohol abusers, unlike alcohol addicted individuals, are not alcohol dependent and consequently, when they quit drinking, they almost never experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

The Pupils Think They Have Uncovered A Variance With the Findings From The Group of Alcoholism Authorities

The pupils also had a problem with the second ranked answer given by the alcohol dependency professionals, to be precise, “Have you ever had a drink the first thing in the morning to get rid of a hangover or to steady your nerves?”

Miss Benning told the students in her class that this sign does not inevitably signify that the problem is alcohol addiction, but that it does emphasize the need that alcohol dependent individuals have to drink in order to avert alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

After Miss Benning explained the importance of alcohol withdrawal symptoms in the life of the individual who is alcohol dependent, the pupils started to recognize the essential difference between alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency.

To add a sense of closure to the topic, Miss Benning asked her pupils to take out a sheet of paper and answer the following question: “if every person who is alcohol dependent knew about every one of the alcohol addiction signs and alcohol withdrawal symptoms we have studied, what percentage of them do you think would ask for alcohol addiction treatment?”

After approximately two or three minutes, Miss Benning asked for the pupils’ predictions. While many pupils figured that about 80 to 90 percent of alcohol addicted people would get alcohol dependency treatment if they knew about the facts related to alcohol withdrawal symptoms and alcohol addiction signs, most of the pupils thought that this number would not be less than 60 percent.

The Pupils Were Amazed to Discover That Only 25% of Alcohol Addicted Individuals in the U.S. Seek Alcohol Treatment

To the shock of most of the pupils, Miss Benning proclaimed that according to various scientific examinations, only 25% of the people who are addicted to alcohol in the U.S. ask for alcoholism rehab. This amazed most of the pupils because they believed that first-hand knowledge of the alarming statistics and facts correlated with alcohol dependency would motivate most of the alcohol addicted individuals to get alcoholism rehab.

Miss Benning then stated that alcohol addicted individuals not only need alcohol on a daily basis in order to function but they also require alcohol on an everyday basis so they can steer clear of possible alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Clearly, the alcohol addicted individual’s need to drink on a daily basis is stronger than facts or logic. Certainly, because the desire for alcohol is “reality” to the individual who is addicted to alcohol, this is difficult to reverse.

A few minutes later the bell rang, indicating that the end of class had arrived. Based on the buzz manifested by the pupils when they were leaving the classroom, Miss Benning knew that she had inspired and stimulated the pupils in her classroom to stop and think about an important health and social problem that exists in our country.

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A Critical Study about Alcoholics Info, Alcoholism Symptoms, and Alcoholism Statistics By a School Teacher
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Paula

Mr. Blake was one of the health lecturers at a medium size rural junior high school in the Eastern part of the U.S. For “Alcohol Alertness Month” he decided that he would center on the following three topics for a class assignment: alcoholism symptoms alcoholism statistics, and alcoholics info.

After Mr. Blake put the final touches on the topics that would be assigned to his pupils, he made up his mind that he would give them their assignment the following Friday morning.

When “assignment day” finally arrived, Mr. Blake met with his students, handed out some related research literature, and then informed the members of his class about the topics he picked.

Why It Is Imperative to Figure Out How to Associate Alcoholism Symptoms, Alcoholism Statistics, and Alcoholics Info with Real-Life Experiences of People Who Are Alcohol Dependent

He then gave his pupils an overview of some relevant alcoholism statistics and alcoholism signs and symptoms and stressed how imperative it is to become skilled at figuring out how to relate these symbols, statistics, and facts with the real-life situations of individuals addicted to alcohol. He then gave the pupils in his classroom a short articulation about the importance of learning more about alcohol dependent people and how they exist on a daily basis.

Mr. Blake notified the pupils in his classroom that they could give their attention to one of the three topics or talk about all three topics and how they are interrelated. Fundamentally this would be analogous to a general summary but done in a more wide-ranging way.

Another selection that he presented to the pupils in his classroom was the following: take a topic such as alcoholism signs and symptoms, explore things more completely, and then discuss three or four symptoms and signs. Mr. Blake then stated that the same principals apply to the other two topics, namely, alcoholism statistics and alcoholics info.

The end result of their research investigation would be a nine thousand word research project and then a twenty-five minute oral presentation that would be presented in front of all the members of the class.

Presenting The Results of An Academic Inquiry at the District Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse Symposium

As a reward for their first-rate academic accomplishment, those with the top four overall grades on the composition and on the presentation will be asked to present the outcome of their research investigation at the regional drug and alcohol dependency conference during the last eight days of February.

After the students in the class got the information about their assignment, more than a few of them raised their hands and asked for a demonstration of a sub-topic that they could center their attention on for their research project.

In response, Mr. Blake came to a decision that he would quickly chat about four or five alcoholism symptoms and signs that the class could develop.

As an illustration, Mr. Blake emphasized the following alcoholism signs and symptoms: boasting and a “big shot” complex, an obsession with drinking, cloudy thinking, and loss of control.

Stating How Alcoholics Info, Alcoholism Statistics, and Alcoholism Symptoms Are Revealed in the Life of an Alcoholic

After articulating these alcohol addiction symptoms and signs, Mr. Blake then informed the pupils in the classroom that they could do some further investigation on each symptom, gather some applicable information, give a number of examples of each symptom or sign, and state how each sign or symptom discloses itself in the life of an alcoholic.

As acknowledged by Mr. Blake, due to the fact that there are numerous alcohol addiction symptoms and signs to select, he stated that he was not exceedingly fretful about two or more students deciding upon the same symptoms and signs for their class project.

To be sure, even if several students were to choose identical symptoms and signs, the illustrations that are related to each sign or symptom would undoubtedly add enough variety to keep away from two or more students presenting the same content.

Mr. Blake then brought up the fact that while there are several alcohol addiction symptoms and signs that could be picked, the number of alcoholism statistics and facts that could be itemized were practically unlimited. When the topic of alcoholics info was added to the equation, furthermore, the students recognized rather swiftly that the three topics would offer a substantial amount of data from which to choose.

Why Mr. Blake Opted For Alcoholics Info, Alcoholism Symptoms, and Alcoholism Statistics as the Topics For This Assignment

Why did Mr. Blake select alcoholism symptoms, alcoholism statistics, and alcoholics info as the topics for this undertaking? Mr. Blake’s expectation was that by asking all of his pupils to inquire into one or more of the three alcoholism topics, all the students would have a greater level of discernment about a complicated yet important topic such as alcohol addiction.

Mr. Blake also thought that by boosting the comprehension of his students about the debilitating outcomes of alcoholism and the miserable existence suffered by alcoholics, his students might think more cautiously before they get involved in hazardous and abusive drinking behavior.

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A Reckless High School Student Exhibits Quite a Few Alcohol-Related Issues, Gets Removed From School, and Has to See the School Counselor
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Paula

Larry was a sixteen year old high school sophomore who was exhibiting a number of alcohol-related problems at school. Therefore, the principal explained to him that he had to see Miss Johns, the school psychologist, before he would be permitted to return to class.

Later that afternoon when Larry went home after school, he had to explain his school situation to his Mother and Father. His Mom and Dad were “relatively traditional” and informed Larry that getting removed from school was not a practical educational game plan. They told Larry that failing to graduate from high school would more likely than not be like a lead weight around his legs that might encumber his educational achievement for the remainder of his adult life. Moreover, Larry’s Mother and Father were very letdown that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his pals in the second.

His Mother and Father informed Larry that even though he may be a teenager, he has to comprehend rather quickly that drinking is the map to pain, financial problems, failure, and ill health.

It was plain to see that his Mom and Dad were in total agreement with Larry’s principal and told Larry that he had better come to the understanding that he needs to see Miss Johns, the school therapist. After his chat with his Mom and Dad, Larry at last agreed to see Miss Johns the next day. So Larry called the school and made an appointment to see Miss Johns the next day during his sixth period class.

The Counselor Asks Larry if He Comprehends Why His Recent Alcohol-Related Actions Were Such a Cause For Concern By the School Administrators

When Larry went to see Miss Johns, she promptly went over all of the alcohol-related problems Larry had gotten into and asked him if he knew why his recent alcohol-related activities caused quite a bit of concern by the school administrators.

Quite honestly, Larry questioned why the principal told him he had to see a school therapist. As he stated to Miss Johns, why should he see a professional psychologist about his drinking activities? Since virtually all of his peers drink the same amount that he does, in essence, drinking shouldn’t be such a big issue. Stated more directly, if almost 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 friends introduced him to drinking wine when he was twelve or thirteen years old and getting ready to enter the seventh grade.

Miss Johns informed Larry that while his pals 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 discharged from school due to alcohol-related fighting, delinquency, and absenteeism, not his classmates. Furthermore, Miss Johns also highlighted the fact that Larry, and not his friends, is the one who is failing and who is missing one day of school every week because of his alcohol related problems. Lastly, Miss Johns stressed the fact that due to his drinking activities, Larry is getting into a damaging cycle of alcohol abuse that can in the end destroy his aspirations, hopes, and dreams.

In short, Larry’s involvement with teen alcohol abuse was starting to thwart his ability to behave like an accountable young man. As conveyed by Miss Johns, “Just because most of your buddies drink wine, hard liquor, wine coolers, or beer does not mean that it is the appropriate behavior for you.”

Larry Learns That In the End He Must Be Responsible For Himself In Order to Keep Away From Damaging, Destructive, Dangerous, and Unhealthy Consequences In the Foreseeable Future

Miss Johns told Larry that one’s buddies can certainly influence an individual in a negative manner, but that the person himself or herself has to eventually take responsibility for himself or herself in order to avert dangerous, unhealthy, destructive, and damaging outcomes in the foreseeable future.

Fortunately, Miss Johns was quite organized for her scheduled appointment with Larry. She showed him reports and research studies she had highlighted that listed diverse drinking statistics and facts that applied to most people in general. Then she showed Larry a lot of data that applied particularly to adolescents.

As an illustration, Miss Johns emphasized the difference between alcohol dependency and alcohol abuse and told Larry that drinkers who continue to abuse alcohol often become alcoholic.

Miss Johns also went over the concept of binge drinking that 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 Abuse and Alcohol Addiction Statistics and Facts

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

1. The 25.9% of teen 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 United States homicides are related to alcohol.

3. In 2002, U.S. alcohol dependency facts and statistics revealed that 2.6 million binge drinkers were between the ages of 12 and 17.

4. It is estimated that more than 3 million teens in the United States between the ages of 14 to 17 are alcohol abusers or alcohol dependent.

5. In the United States, more than 40 percent of those who begin drinking at the age 14 or younger become addicted to alcohol.

6. Relatively 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 annually. If this cost were shared equally by each congressional district, the amount would total more than $120 million per district.

8. Alcohol-related issues are disproportionately found among both juvenile and adult criminal offenders.

Larry Receives An Important Jolt of Reality Concerning the Short Term and the Long Term Results of Adolescent Alcohol Dependency and Alcohol Abuse

After Miss Johns went over the aforementioned alcohol dependency and alcohol abuse facts and statistics, it was clear that what Miss Johns disclosed to Larry was a real eye opener for him. Why? Because for the first time in his young life, someone not only took the time to articulate the long term and the short term results of alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse, but she also made the effort to corroborate what she was saying with alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction facts and statistics that related to people in general, and especially to today’s youth.

Definitely, it was almost as if a light went on and Larry without pause grasped why he should not be engaging in abusive and excessive drinking with or without his peers any longer. Larry thanked Miss Johns for her concern and for the information she went over.

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

Larry thought about this for few minutes and then agreed to get a comprehensive physical exam and to go through an extensive assessment of his drinking situation so that he could start an alcohol abuse or alcoholism treatment program as reasonable as possible.

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What I Learned About Substance Abuse in High School
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Paula

When I was a sophomore in high school, I enrolled into a substance abuse class. At that age, I did not grasp the fact that alcohol abuse in reality was a sub category of drug abuse. While taking this class and learning more about drug and alcohol abuse, 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 individuals throughout the world. I also learned a lot about alcohol treatment and the different alcohol rehab clinics that are typically available to abusive drinkers.

Some of the injurious consequences associated with alcoholism and alcohol abuse that I learned about in this class undeniably startled me. The ruined lives and many difficulties experienced by most alcoholics 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 damage and destruction that alcohol dependent individuals almost always experience.

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

What young person wants to go through alcohol withdrawal symptoms when he or she tries to quit drinking? Why would a person engage in drinking to such an extent that it would cause problems in every area of his or her life? Drinking later in life after an individual 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 focuses on abusive drinking?

These issues were so noteworthy that I talked about some of them in class throughout the school year. What was totally astounding to me was the number of students who simply didn’t care about the negative consequences of irresponsible drinking that I discussed. It was almost as if they couldn’t be troubled with reality and how these results can wreck their lives. For the first time in my life I started to understand something that my grandfather used to articulate throughout my teen and pre-teen years: you can lead a horse to water but you can’t force it to drink.

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