Dante was a seventeen year old high school senior who was displaying several alcohol-related difficulties at school. Consequently, the principal explained to him that he had to see Miss Johnson, the school therapist, before he would be allowed to return to class.

Later that afternoon when Dante went home after school, he had to explain his school situation to his Mom and Dad. His parents were “relatively old-style” and told Dante that getting discharged from school was not a workable educational plan of action. They explained to Dante that failing to graduate from high school would most probably be like a lead weight around his ankles that could conceivably inhibit his educational achievement for the remainder of his adult life. Furthermore, Dante’s Mother and Father were quite letdown that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his friends in the second.

His Mother and Father told Dante that even though he may be a teenager, he needs to comprehend without much delay that drinking is the path to ill health, financial problems, pain, and failure.

It was clear that his Mother and Father were in total concurrence with Dante’s principal and explained to Dante that he had better come to the realization that he needs to see Miss Johnson, the school therapist. After his discussion with his parents, Dante at long last agreed to see Miss Johnson the next day. So Dante phoned the school and scheduled an appointment to see Miss Johnson the next day during his sixth period class.

The Therapist Asks Dante if He Comprehends Why His Recent Alcohol-Related Behavior gave the School Administrators Room For Alarm

When Dante arrived at his scheduled appointment with Miss Johnson, she immediately examined all of the alcohol-related difficulties Dante had experienced and asked him if he comprehended why his recent alcohol-related activities were such a cause for concern.

Quite sincerely, Dante wondered why the principal suggested that he see a school counselor. As he expressed to Miss Johnson, why should he see a professional therapist about his drinking situation? Because just about all of his peers drink the same amount that he does, basically, drinking is no big issue. Stated differently, if just about everybody is drinking, why is this such a major issue?

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

Miss Johnson explained to Dante that while his buddies may in fact drink more than he does and that they may be a bad influence on him, the facts are that he is the one who is getting thrown out of school due to alcohol-related fighting, delinquency, and absenteeism, not his pals. Moreover, Miss Johnson also underlined the fact that Dante, and not his friends, is the one who is failing and who is missing one day of class every week due to his alcohol related issues. Finally, Miss Johnson highlighted the fact that because of his drinking behavior, Dante is getting into a destructive cycle of abusive drinking that can in due course ruin his hopes, dreams and aspirations.

In a word, Dante’s involvement with teenage alcohol abuse was starting to thwart his ability to conduct himself like a responsible young man. As articulated by Miss Johnson, “Just because most of your pals drink wine coolers, wine, hard liquor, or beer does not mean that it is right for you.”

Dante Learns That At the End of the Day He Must Be Accountable For Himself In Order to Keep Away From Damaging, Dangerous, Unhealthy, and Destructive Situations In the Foreseeable Future

Miss Johnson informed Dante that one’s peers can indeed influence an individual in an unhealthy way, but that the person herself or himself has to ultimately be accountable for himself or herself in order to steer clear of dangerous, damaging, unhealthy, and destructive effects in the foreseeable future.

Fortunately, Miss Johnson was very organized for her appointment with Dante. She showed him reports and research studies she had underlined that outlined various drinking statistics and facts that targeted most people in general. Then she showed Dante quite a bit of data that applied principally to adolescents.

As an illustration, Miss Johnson stressed the difference between alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse and explained to Dante that individuals who continue to drink in an excessive manner frequently become alcohol dependent.

Miss Johnson also went over 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 Counselor Articulates More Than a Few Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Addiction Facts and Statistics

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

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

2. Fifty percent of United States murders are alcohol related.

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 projected that more than 3 million teens in the United States between the ages of 14 to 17 are problem drinkers.

5. In the U.S., more than forty percent of those who begin drinking at the age 14 or younger become dependent on alcohol.

6. Relatively few of the more than 18 million U.S. alcohol abusers receive the alcohol rehab they require.

7. Teenage drinking costs Americans nearly billion per year. If each congressional district shared this cost equally, the amount would total more than 0 million per district.

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

Dante Gets A Much Needed Wake Up Call Regarding the Short Term and the Long Term Outcomes of Teen Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

After Miss Johnson listed the aforementioned alcohol abuse and alcoholism facts and statistics, it was apparent that what Miss Johnson taught Dante was a real surprise 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 abuse and alcoholism, but she also took the time to confirm what she was saying with alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse statistics and facts that related to everyone in general, and chiefly to teenagers.

Definitely, it was almost as if a light went on and Dante instantaneously understood why he should not be engaging in abusive and excessive drinking with or without his friends anymore. Dante thanked Miss Johnson for her concern and for the material 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 addiction rehabilitation he would probably need.

Dante thought about this for a minute and then agreed to get an extensive physical examination and to go through a complete assessment of his drinking behavior so that he could start an alcohol treatment program right away.

Dante was a fifteen year old high school sophomore who was displaying numerous alcohol-related difficulties at school. Consequently, 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 go over his school discharge with his Mom and Dad. His parents were “fairly conventional” and told Dante that getting discharged from school was not a possible educational game plan. 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 impair his educational attainment for the remainder of his life. In addition, Dante’s parents were quite dissatisfied that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his friends in the second.

His Mom and Dad informed Dante that even though he may be a teenager, he needs to realize fairly rapidly that drinking is the pathway to pain, financial problems, ill health, and failure.

It was plain to see that his Mother and Father were on the same page as Dante’s principal and told Dante that he had better come to the realization that he needs to see Miss Johnson, the school counselor. After his talk with his Mom and Dad, Dante in due course 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 his third period class.

The Psychologist Asks Dante if He Understands Why His Recent Alcohol-Related Behavior Caused Quite a Bit of Apprehension By the School Administrators

When Dante arrived at his scheduled appointment with Miss Johnson, she immediately went over all of the alcohol-related problems Dante had gotten into and asked him if he knew why his recent alcohol-related activities made the school administrators uneasy.

Quite frankly, Dante was not sure why the principal told him he had to see a school therapist. As he expressed to Miss Johnson, why should he see a professional psychologist about his drinking circumstances? Due to the fact that nearly all of his buddies drink as much if not more than he does, essentially, drinking is no big issue. Stated differently, if almost everybody is drinking, why is this such a big deal?

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

Miss Johnson told Dante that while his peers may indeed drink more than he does and that they may be a negative influence on him, the facts are that he is the one who is getting expelled from school due to alcohol-related fighting, delinquency, and absenteeism, not his friends. In addition, Miss Johnson also underscored the fact that Dante, and not his peers, is the one who is failing and who is missing one day of school every week due to his alcohol related difficulties. Lastly, Miss Johnson underlined the fact that because of his drinking situation, Dante is getting into a dangerous cycle of excessive drinking that can in the long run ruin his hopes, dreams and aspirations.

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

Dante Learns That Ultimately He Must Be Responsible For Himself In Order to Stay Away From Damaging, Dangerous, Unhealthy, and Destructive Circumstances In the Future

Miss Johnson explained to Dante that one’s friends can certainly influence a person in an unhealthy manner, but that the individual himself or herself has to eventually be accountable for himself or herself in order to stay away from dangerous, damaging, destructive, and unhealthy circumstances down the road.

Fortunately, Miss Johnson was very well prepared for her conference with Dante. She showed him research studies and reports she had highlighted that summarized various drinking facts and statistics that targeted most people in general. Then she showed Dante quite a bit of figures and reports that applied particularly to underage drinkers.

For instance, Miss Johnson emphasized the difference between alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse and told Dante that drinkers who continue to abuse alcohol regularly become dependent on alcohol.

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

The Counselor Conveys A Number Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Dependency Statistics and Facts

Then Miss Johnson presented 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 deaths in the United States due to drunk drivers and related injuries, medical conditions, or diseases.

2. About twenty-five percent of all U.S. individuals who register in general hospitals have alcohol-related 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 deaths in the United States.

4. More than 7% of the population that is 18 years old and older -- about 13.8 million Americans -- has drinking problems, including 8.1 million individuals who suffer from alcoholism.

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

6. As revealed by one U.S. survey of 18 to 24 year-old current drinkers who failed to complete high school, about 60% began to drink before they were 16 years old.

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

8. As demonstrated by the research literature, non-alcoholic members of alcoholic's families use 10 times as much sick time as families who do not manifest alcohol abuse or alcoholism.

Dante Receives A Much Needed Primer on the Facts About the Short Term and the Long Term Consequences of Underage Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Dependency

After Miss Johnson verbalized the aforementioned alcoholism and alcohol abuse facts and statistics, it was evident 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 explain the short term and the long term outcomes of alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency, but she also took the time to substantiate what she was saying with alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency statistics and facts that related to everybody in general, and principally to today’s youth.

Without a doubt, it was almost as if a light went on and Dante instantaneously realized why he should not be engaging in excessive and hazardous drinking with or without his buddies any longer. Dante thanked Miss Johnson for her concern and for the material she reviewed.

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

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

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 abuse professionals affirm that alcohol advertisements constructed by the media are a major reason for the rise in teen alcohol abuse.

Other substance abuse authorities think that the increase in teenage alcohol abuse is due to the toleration and ease of access of beer, liquor, and wine in our society.

Still other alcohol dependency authorities believe that many of our teenagers involve themselves in injurious drinking due to the increased fretfulness that they undergo.

From a slightly different outlook, since both parents in many families are gainfully employed, the lack of parental guidance clearly has to play a primary part in the proliferation of teen alcohol abuse. And as a final point, diverse alcoholism authorities state that the escalation of youth alcohol abuse is due, at least partially, to our permissive society.

Alcohol Abuse and Coping Skills

One element of teen alcohol abuse that seems to be somewhat incomplete in the alcohol addiction research findings, in contrast, is the nonexistence of educational courses that teach teens how to improve upon their coping skills so that their destructive drinking behavior is extensively reduced or exterminated.

More specifically, scientific research has shown that there is an indirect connection between poor coping skills and abusive drinking. In effect, this means that the more mediocre the coping skills, the higher the rate of alcohol abuse. To the degree that this is a valid proclamation, why isn’t coping skills instruction a fundamental part of the academic curriculum in all of our elementary schools, junior high schools, and high schools?

A Society That Accentuates Teenage Coping Skills

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

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

Stated more precisely, students who show evidence of high-quality coping skills will be more able to think logically and engage in quality decision making as opposed to adolescents who, because they are deficient in good coping skills, are attracted to the “quick fix” of abusive drinking.

What would happen in the above “ideal” society, moreover, if adolescents not only got exceptional coping skills instruction but also received an exceptional education that highlighted the long term and short term unhealthy consequences associated with drug abuse and alcohol abuse? Such an emphasis on drug and alcohol abuse facts, along with more highly developed coping skills education, it is declared, would help teenagers steer clear of the apparent charm associated with underage drinking and, for that reason, would fundamentally decrease the excessive drinking behavior shown by the youth in our country.

Teenage Alcohol Abuse: Conclusion

There are surely scores of sound reasons why so many of our teenagers drink in an abusive manner. Such a complex subject matter demands a broad based and more meaningful preventative and educational response by our students, parents, politicians, and educators so that our adolescents can learn how to cope with life’s difficulties in a more rewarding and accountable way instead of resorting to abusive drinking behavior to solve their difficulties.

Recent alcohol abuse statistics demonstrate the fact that alcohol abuse among adolescents is increasing in the United States. What are some of the reasons for this? Quite a few alcohol abuse experts stress the point that wine, beer, and liquor ads generated by the media are an important reason for the proliferation of teen alcohol abuse.

Other chemical dependency experts affirm that the increase in youth alcohol abuse is due to the toleration and convenience of liquor, wine, and beer in our society.

Still other alcohol addiction professionals think that numerous young people involve themselves in alcohol abuse due to the increased tension that they feel.

From a somewhat different point of view, due to the fact that both parents in more than a few families work full or part-time, the lack of parental guidance indubitably has to play an important role in the increase in teenage alcohol abuse. And last of all, diverse alcohol abuse experts declare that the expansion of adolescent alcohol abuse is due, to some extent, to our lenient society.

Excessive Drinking and Coping Skills

One aspect of teen alcohol abuse that looks as if it somewhat incomplete in the alcohol abuse research findings, alternatively, is the absence of educational courses that teach teenagers how to improve upon their coping skills so that their excessive drinking behavior is significantly lessened or exterminated.

Stated more explicitly, scientific research has disclosed the fact that there is an indirect connection between poor coping skills and alcohol abuse. In actual fact, this means that the worse the coping skills, the greater the prevalence of alcohol abuse. To the degree that this is a correct argument, why isn’t coping skills instruction a primary part of the academic core curriculum in all of our elementary schools, junior high schools, and high schools?

A Society That Emphasizes Youth Coping Skills

Let us create a scenario for the purpose of clarification. Let us imagine a society in which all people are trained how to achieve good coping skills all the way from kindergarten up to and including the twelfth grade.

In such a society, when life gets demanding, people who are ”coping skills experts” will be able to respond in a more healthy and more rewarding way, as opposed to others who fail to execute their coping skills.

Stated differently, students who demonstrate sound coping skills will be more able to think clearly and show signs of first-class decision making as opposed to teens who, because they were unsuccessful in their attempts to learn good coping skills, are attracted to the “quick fix” of abusive drinking.

What would happen in the above “ideal” society, what’s more, if adolescents not only received first-rate coping skills education but also got a top shelf education that outlined the long term and short term unhealthy 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 affirmed, would help teens keep away from the apparent fascination with teenage drinking and, accordingly, would substantially lessen the excessive drinking behavior undertaken by teenagers in our country.

Youth Alcohol Abuse: Conclusion

There are obviously more than a few sound reasons why so many of our teens drink in a destructive manner. Such a complex problem demands a broad based and more applicable preventative and educational response by our politicians, students, educators, and parents so that our teens can learn how to cope with life’s difficulties in a more fruitful and responsible manner rather than resorting to harmful drinking behavior to solve their problems.

Dante was a sixteen year old high school junior who was manifesting quite a few alcohol-related difficulties at school. Therefore, the principal told him that he had to see Miss Johnson, the school therapist, before he would be permitted to return to class.

Later that afternoon when Dante went home after school, he had to go over his school discharge with his Mom and Dad. His Mother and Father were “fairly traditional” and told Dante that getting thrown out of school was not a workable educational option. They explained to Dante that failing to graduate from high school would probably be like a lead weight around his feet that might hurt his educational attainment for the rest of his adult life. Furthermore, Dante’s parents were extremely distraught that he was drinking in the first place and drinking with his pals in the second.

His Mother and Father explained to Dante that although he may be a teen, he has to realize fairly swiftly that drinking is the map to ill health, financial problems, pain, and failure.

It was plain to see 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 up his mind to see Miss Johnson, the school counselor. After his talk with his Mother and Father, Dante at long last 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 second period class.

The Therapist Asks Dante if He Knows Why His Recent Alcohol-Related Behavior Made the School Administrators Uneasy

When Dante went to see Miss Johnson, she instantaneously went over all of the alcohol-related issues Dante had experienced and asked him if he comprehended why his recent alcohol-related behavior was such a cause for concern.

Quite sincerely, Dante wondered why the principal explained to him that he had to see a school psychologist. As he stated to Miss Johnson, why should he see a professional therapist about his drinking circumstances? Since virtually all of his buddies drink about as much as he does, drinking really shouldn’t be such a big deal. Stated more precisely, if just about everyone is drinking, why is this such a major concern?

Miss Johnson asked Dante when he started to drink. He said that some of his older classmates introduced him to drinking hard liquor when he was twelve or thirteen years old and getting ready to enter the seventh grade.

Miss Johnson told Dante that while his peers may indeed drink more than he does and that they may be a bad influence on him, the facts are that he is the one who is getting suspended from school due to alcohol-related fighting, delinquency, and absenteeism, not his peers. Moreover, Miss Johnson also underlined the fact that Dante, and not his buddies, is the one who is failing and who is missing at least one day of class every week due to his alcohol related difficulties. Finally, Miss Johnson emphasized the fact that due to his drinking activities, Dante is getting into a damaging cycle of abusive drinking that can in the end wreck his aspirations, hopes, and dreams.

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

Dante Learns That Sooner or Later He Must Be Accountable For Himself In Order to Keep Away From Destructive, Dangerous, Unhealthy, and Damaging Circumstances In the Future

Miss Johnson told Dante that other people can definitely influence a person in a negative manner, but that the individual himself or herself has to sooner or later be accountable for himself or herself in order to avert destructive, dangerous, unhealthy, and damaging outcomes in the future.

Luckily, Miss Johnson was very organized for her appointment with Dante. She showed him reports and research studies she had underlined that summarized various drinking facts and statistics that targeted most people in general. Then she showed Dante quite a bit of information that applied mainly to underage drinkers.

For example, Miss Johnson stressed the difference between alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction and informed Dante that drinkers who continue to abuse alcohol habitually become dependent on alcohol.

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

The Psychologist Verbalizes A Number Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse Statistics and Facts

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

1. Alcohol is an issue in around 50% of America's murders, suicides, and accidental deaths.

2. Alcohol-related accidents are the leading cause of fatalities among young people.

3. Each year in the United States, just about 5,000 youth under the age of 21 lose their lives as a result of underage drinking. This includes about 1,900 deaths from motor vehicle crashes.

4. Research has demonstrated that U.S. adolescents who drink alcohol are 50 times more likely to use cocaine than teenagers who never drink alcoholic beverages.

5. Roughly 1,700 college students in the United States are killed each year--around 4.65 a day--as a result 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 projects that around 76 million individuals throughout the world have disorders that are related to alcohol abuse or alcohol addiction.

8. According to recent substance abuse research findings, it has been learned that roughly 53% of the adults in the United States have articulated that one or more of their close relatives is an alcohol abuser or is dependent on alcohol.

Dante Receives An Important Wake Up Call Regarding the Long Term and the Short Term Results of Teen Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Addiction

After Miss Johnson presented the aforementioned alcohol dependency and alcohol abuse facts and statistics, it was evident that what Miss Johnson disclosed to Dante was a real jolt to him. Why? Because for the first time in his young life, someone not only took the time to explain the long term and the short term consequences of alcohol dependency and alcohol abuse, but she also took the time to confirm what she was saying with alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency facts and statistics that related to everybody in general, and chiefly to young people.

Undeniably, it was almost as if a light went on and Dante without pause understood why he should not be engaging in hazardous and excessive drinking with or without his classmates anymore. 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 appraisal for the alcohol rehabilitation he would probably need.

Dante thought about this for few minutes and then agreed to get a thorough physical examination and to go through an extensive appraisal of his drinking circumstances so that he could start an alcohol abuse or alcohol addiction treatment program right away.

Alcohol abuse statistics demonstrate the fact that alcohol abuse among teens is increasing in the United States. What are some of the reasons for this? Quite a few alcohol abuse professionals emphasize the point that beer, wine, and liquor advertisements produced by the media are an important reason for the spread of teenage alcohol abuse.

Other alcohol addiction experts emphasize the point that the increase in youth alcohol abuse is due to the acceptability and convenience of alcohol in our society.

Still other substance abuse experts affirm that numerous young people get involved in abusive drinking due to the increased apprehension that they live through.

From a somewhat different point of view, because both parents in more than a few families work full or part-time, the lack of parental guidance indubitably has to play a major part in the increase in youth alcohol abuse. And as a final point, an assortment of alcohol addiction authorities think that the spread of youth alcohol abuse is due, in part, to our lax society.

Coping Skills Education and Hazardous Drinking

One element of youth alcohol abuse that appears to be somewhat incomplete in the chemical dependency research findings, nonetheless, is the dearth of educational courses that teach teenagers how to further develop their coping skills so that their dangerous drinking behavior is substantially reduced or done away with.

Stated more explicitly, scientific research has illustrated the fact that there is an indirect association between poor coping skills and alcohol abuse. In essence, this means that the poorer the coping skills, the greater the rate of alcohol abuse. To the extent that this is a truthful statement, why isn’t coping skills instruction a fundamental part of the academic prospectus in all of our high schools, junior high schools, and elementary schools?

A Society That Stresses Youth Coping Skills

Let us create a scenario for explanatory purposes. Let us imagine a society in which students are taught how to develop first-class coping skills all the way from kindergarten up to and including the twelfth grade.

In such a society, when life gets demanding, 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 put their coping skills into practice.

Stated differently, students who demonstrate outstanding coping skills will be more able to think proactively and engage in first-class decision making as opposed to adolescents who, because they lack outstanding coping skills, resort to the “quick fix” of excessive drinking.

What would happen in the above “ideal” society, what’s more, if adolescents not only obtained exceptional coping skills education but also received a first-rate education that highlighted the long term and short term devastating outcomes associated with drug abuse and alcohol abuse? Emphasizing these drug and alcohol abuse facts, along with more advanced coping skills instruction, it is emphasized, would help students stay away from the noticeable charm interlinked with youth drinking and, for that reason, would significantly decrease the harmful drinking behavior displayed by adolescents in our country.

Teenage Excessive Drinking: Conclusion

There are certainly numerous convincing reasons why so many of our teens drink in a dangerous manner. Such a complicated issue demands an all-inclusive and more pertinent preventative and educational response by our students, politicians, parents, and educators so that our teenagers can learn how to cope with life’s predicaments in a more fruitful and responsible manner rather than gravitating to injurious drinking behavior to solve their difficulties.

Alcohol abuse statistics reveal that alcohol abuse among adolescents is increasing in the United States. What are some of the reasons for this? Quite a few alcoholism authorities emphasize the point that liquor, beer, and wine ads produced by the media are a fundamental reason for the increase in teenage alcohol abuse.

Other alcohol abuse specialists believe that the increase in youth alcohol abuse is due to the toleration and accessibility of wine,liquor, and beer in our society.

Still other alcohol addiction experts state that more than a few of our young people get involved in injurious drinking because of the increased disquiet that they live through.

From a slightly different perspective, since both parents in a number of families work full or part-time, the lack of parental guidance without a doubt has to play a key part in the expansion of youth alcohol abuse. And last of all, different chemical dependency specialists emphasize the point that the expansion of teen alcohol abuse is due, in some degree, to our lenient society.

Coping Skills Training and Hazardous Drinking

One aspect of teen alcohol abuse that looks like it is under reported in the substance abuse research literature, on the other hand, is the nonexistence of educational courses that teach students how to further develop their coping skills so that their abusive drinking behavior is fundamentally lessened or done away with.

Stated more precisely, scientific research has uncovered the fact that there is an indirect relationship between poor coping skills and abusive drinking. Fundamentally, this means that the poorer the coping skills, the greater the frequency of alcohol abuse. To the extent that this is a valid affirmation, why isn’t coping skills training an important part of the educational curriculum in all of our elementary schools, junior high schools, and high schools?

A Society That Emphasizes Teenage Coping Skills

Let us manufacture a scenario for illustrative purposes. Let us imagine a society in which students are trained how to achieve sound coping skills all the way from kindergarten up to and including the twelfth grade.

In such a society, when life gets difficult, people who are ”coping skills experts” will be able to respond in a more healthy and more creative manner, as opposed to others who fail to put their coping skills into practice.

More explicitly, students who reveal sound coping skills will be more able to think proactively and demonstrate excellent decision making as opposed to teenagers who, because they do not possess outstanding coping skills, are drawn to the “quick fix” of hazardous drinking.

What would happen in the above “ideal” society, additionally, if students not only got exclusive coping skills training but also got an excellent education that focused on the short term and long term injurious outcomes associated with drug abuse and alcohol abuse? Emphasizing these types of drug and alcohol abuse facts, along with more advanced coping skills training, it is asserted, would help teenagers steer clear of the clear attraction with teenage drinking and, as a result, would substantially decrease the injurious drinking behavior shown by teens in our country.

Teenage Alcohol Abuse: Conclusion

There are positively a number of defensible reasons why so many of our teens drink in a hazardous manner. Such a complicated subject demands a far-reaching and more meaningful educational and preventative response by our politicians, students, educators, and parents so that our teenagers can learn how to cope with life’s problems in a more fruitful and accountable way instead of gravitating to hazardous drinking behavior to solve their problems.