What I Learned About Alcoholism and Drug Addiction in High School

When I was in the tenth grade in high school, I registered for a substance abuse class. At that age, I did not understand that alcohol abuse in truth was a sub division of drug abuse. While taking this class and learning more about drug and alcohol abuse and above all 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 individuals all through the world. I also learned a lot about alcohol rehab and the various alcohol rehab facilities that are normally available to abusive drinkers.

Dangerous Results That are Linked to Alcohol Dependency and Alcohol Abuse

Some of the harmful end results associated with alcoholism and alcohol abuse that I learned about in this class without a doubt frightened me. The ruined lives and numerous problems experienced by most alcohol addicted 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 dependent people almost always go through.

Think about 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 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 adolescent 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 young person want to sacrifice his or her education, employment, finances, and relationships for a life that focuses on hazardous drinking?

These issues were so important that I discussed some of them in class throughout the school year. What was totally astounding to me was the number of students who essentially didn’t care about the dangerous results of irresponsible drinking that I discussed. It was almost as if they couldn’t be troubled with the truth and how these results can ruin their lives. For the first time in my life I started to figure out a saying that my grandfather used to tell me throughout my younger years: you can lead a horse to water but you can’t force it to drink.

It’s Liberating, Beneficial, and Important to Stay Away From the Debilitating and Unhealthy Consequences of Alcohol and Drug Abuse

And even at my young age, I also started to understand how liberating, beneficial, and important it is in life to keep yourself from the unhealthy and damaging effects of alcohol and drug abuse.