21_https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v21ZLg8n8do_reducing alcohol consumption
gpt
Hi, Laura.
human
Hi.
gpt
Thanks for coming in. Um, so, I'm not sure how much you know already about sort of what you're doing here. If it's okay, I'll give you a little rundown.
human
Yeah.
gpt
So, basically, we're here, I'm just gonna talk to you for a little bit about sort of what your goals are for your life, um, get to know you a little bit better and talk about some different behaviors that you might be engaging in. It's not my job at all to judge you or to try and change you, you know. Basically, I'm gonna talk to you about how things are going, any changes you might want to make in your life, how I could help you with that, and just what I can do that's going to be most beneficial for you.
human
Okay.
gpt
Does that sound okay?
human
Yeah.
gpt
All right, so, I guess just to get started, can you tell me a little bit about yourself?
human
Well, my name is Laura. I'm 17 years old, and I'm a senior in high school.
gpt
Okay. And, what kinds of things do you plan for your life?
human
Well, hopefully, go to college, get, you know, good enough grades to go to college.
gpt
Hm.
human
Yeah.
gpt
That's great.
human
Yeah.
gpt
Do you have a plan as to where you might want to go or?
human
Um, I'm not sure yet. Maybe a few schools in the area, I'm looking maybe to apply out-of-state.
gpt
Oh.
human
So, maybe move away for college.
gpt
Cool.
human
Yeah.
gpt
So, kind of keeping your options open.
human
Yeah, definitely.
gpt
Great. And, do you have an idea about what you might want to study or?
human
Yeah, maybe um, pre-law.
gpt
Oh, wow. Okay, that's exciting.
human
Yeah.
gpt
All right, cool. Uh, what do you like to do for fun?
human
Well, um, on the weekends I like to hang out with my friends, maybe go to like a party, or go to the mall to shop, or if there's like a school-related event, we'll go to like a football game or-
gpt
Mm-hmm.
human
-something like that, yeah.
gpt
You like to have a good time?
human
Yeah.
gpt
And, you have a lot of friends or a few close people, or?
human
Um, I would say like a moderate amount. I'm not really-really popular or like, I have no friends.
gpt
Mm-hmm.
human
So, I'm like normal.
gpt
All right.
human
Yeah.
gpt
That's a good way to be, right?
human
Yeah. [chuckles]
gpt
All right, so, um, it sounds like, in general, your-- Things are going pretty well for you. How are your grades right now?
human
Um, they're pretty good, As and Bs. So, I'm doing okay.
gpt
Okay.
human
Through college.
gpt
Great. Well, one thing I want to ask about is, you know, different people have sort of different values or things that are important to them. They might, you know, be really close with family or really have, you know, their friends as being something particularly important. So, I'm gonna show you just a few things on this sheet, and if you can look at them all. So, there's things like belonging, community, cultural identity, family, friendship, modesty, religion, respect, self-determination and spirituality. Which of those do you think is sort of important to you?
human
Um, family definitely, uh, friendship, and belonging.
gpt
Okay.
human
Yeah.
gpt
What's important to you about your family?
human
Well, I-I love them, so I want them to think well of me-
gpt
Hm.
human
-and I want them to, um, be accepting and love me.
gpt
Okay. Do you have brothers or sisters?
human
Yeah, I have one sister.
gpt
Okay, great. And, how about friendship?
human
Friendship, um, I've-I've grown close to many people that I care about. So, I would like them to be accepting of me as well.
gpt
Great. So, being a good friend and-
human
Yeah.
gpt
-having people who are good friends, too, is important. And then, what about belonging? You mentioned that one too.
human
Yeah, just a sense of like fitting in and not-- And like getting accepted-
gpt
Hm.
human
-in general, yeah.
gpt
Yeah. Wanting to be part of a group-
human
Yeah.
gpt
-and kinda. Okay, great. All right, well, one of the things I wanna talk about is, you know, um, you mentioned that you'd like to go out with friends and-and party, and that sort of a thing. And, I'm curious, when you're out in the parties, do you ever have any alcohol?
human
Um, not much, maybe like one or two drinks at the most.
gpt
Okay. Can you tell me a little bit about how alcohol fits into your overall social scene?
human
Um, I pretty much just have a drink to just have it like, so it looks like I'm drinking, even though I'm not.
gpt
Hm.
human
So maybe people won't bug me about drinking or something.
gpt
Okay, you're kinda getting pressure from other people who are drinking, and it feels easier for you to-
human
Yeah just-
human
-kinda hold a drink.
human
-have one there and pretending to have it.
gpt
Okay.
human
Yeah.
gpt
And, do you think that, um, this is most weekends or occasionally? How-
human
Um.
gpt
-often do you think that you are around alcohol.
human
Maybe one or two weekends a month at the most?
gpt
Okay.
human
Not really much.
gpt
So, one or two weekends a month you're in a situation where there is alcohol?
human
Yeah.
gpt
Okay. And what sort of situations are you in?
human
Well, just I guess, at a party or something, someone's house.
gpt
Uh-huh.
human
Or, even if it's not a party, like a small social gathering, maybe there'll be like a few beers around-
gpt
Hm.
human
-or something.
gpt
So, mainly, just kinda hanging out with friends.
human
Pretty much, yeah.
gpt
Are you ever, um, places where there are parents around or-
human
Um—
gpt
-or mostly just-just with the kids?
human
Mostly just with us, but, sometimes I'll go to like a close friend's house and like I'm close to a family as well. So, we'll all just hang out.
gpt
Mm-hmm. And, what about driving?
human
Um, like drunk driving?
gpt
Yeah. Do you ever go anywhere in a car after you've had any alcohol?
human
Um, definitely not. I've never drunk-driven, and I've never been in a car with a drunk driver.
gpt
Okay. So, that's something that you've sort of made a decision about. It sound like you—
human
Yeah, because I know that's extremely dangerous, so.
gpt
Okay. What do you know about how that's dangerous?
human
Um, well, alcohol definitely impairs your judgment. So, I mean, driving under the influence of alcohol can lead to like crashes and accidents and things like that, so I'd rather not be in that situation.
gpt
So, you're really are trying to be safe and-and make sure that-
human
Yeah.
gpt
-you're not putting yourself-
human
Yeah, definitely.
gpt
-in those situations? That's great. You know, it's-it's tough to do sometimes, and I really commend you for being able to-to stick with that.
human
Thank you.
gpt
So, you mentioned, you pretty much will like hold a drink or maybe have a drink or two. What do you thinks is the most alcohol you've ever had in-in one day?
human
Not more than two drinks.
gpt
Okay. So, the-the absolute most-
human
Yeah.
gpt
-was two? Okay. And, what kinds of things do you like about alcohol?
human
Um, I've never really been drunk-
gpt
Uh-huh.
human
-so, I can't really say that I like that feeling or not, but, it's just like-- I mean, you're just in a good mood.
gpt
Mm-hmm.
human
So.
gpt
So, it just kind of makes you feel relaxed or?
human
Yeah, yeah, relaxed.
gpt
Okay. Uh, anything else?
human
Um, no, not really. Like I said, I don't drink that much-
gpt
Mm-hmm.
human
So, I-I wouldn't be able to tell you.
gpt
Okay. And, any not-so-good things about alcohol?
human
Um, definitely, yeah. I mean, when I'm at parties and stuff and it's getting a little later, some people, um, that drink-- Like, drank too much, they start throwing up, or they get hurt, or they're really loud and obnoxious, and that's not fun for anybody.
gpt
Mm-hmm. So, you've seen a lot of other kids who-
human
Yeah.
gpt
-had some consequences-
human
Yeah.
gpt
-and decided that's not for you?
human
Yeah.
gpt
Got it. I-I can understand that. [chuckles] Uh, any other things that you can think of?
human
Um, no, I mean, I've never, you know, been friends with anybody that's gotten into like a serious accident and stuff. It's just-
gpt
Mm-hmm.
human
-very, like, obnoxious things.
gpt
Okay. Well, so, you know, as someone who's not 21 yet, it is-- Underage drinking is something that's not legal-
human
Yeah.
gpt
-and it is something that is considered pretty risky. So, I wonder what you think about that, just in terms of how it fits into your life.
human
Um, I know it's definitely risky, but, I mean, I guess, we still do it. [chuckles]
gpt
Uh-huh. So, it's kind of something that you're—
human
It's just there.
gpt
It's just there? Okay. And, I'm curious, you mentioned, you know, your friends are important to you, and your family's important to you, and, sort of fitting in is important to you. How does alcohol play a role with that?
human
Um, well, definitely not in my family life, because my parents don't really condone-
gpt
Okay.
human
-alcohol use, but, friendships, I mean, when I'm hanging out with my friends, or we're at a party or something, there's usually alcohol involved.
gpt
Okay. So, from your family perspective, the drinking is not something that fits very well?
human
Yeah.
gpt
And with friends, you feel like it's easier to-to hang out with alcohol, or maybe you wouldn't have as much fun, or your friends wouldn't like you as much or?
human
I guess, I mean, since it's just there.
gpt
Okay.
human
So-
gpt
Got it.
human
-it ties in with the whole belonging thing.
gpt
Okay. Well, when you think about your drinking and, sort of, looking forward in 5 years or 10 years, how do you think that drinking might fit in with your life?
human
Um, it probably will have a very small role, if any-
gpt
Mm-hmm.
human
-in my life, considering I have big plans for my future. So.
gpt
Okay. Can you expand on that a little bit more? What do you mean?
human
I mean, I don't think I would be, you know, drinking as much or going to parties as much if I'm studying for school, or in college, or trying to get in law school and things like that.
gpt
Okay, so, the-the alcohol is something that might make it harder to reach your goals?
human
Yeah, definitely.
gpt
Um, so, when you're sort of looking ahead, how often do you think you might be drinking, say, when you get to college?
human
Um, maybe less than I am now. I mean, I don't drink much anyway, so-
gpt
Mm-hmm.
human
-maybe, like, one drink every once in a blue moon.
gpt
Okay. So, you sort of have a plan to cut back on-
human
Yeah, definitely.
gpt
-your drinking eventually?
human
For sure.
gpt
How might that go?
human
Well, I mean, I guess right now I would try to stop in high school, and once I get older, maybe just like, socially once in a while, but not anything big or anything.
gpt
Yeah, so, you don't feel the need to make any major changes, but you feel like you could make some adjustments that would make it easier or—
human
Definitely, yeah. That's a good word.
gpt
Okay. How important is it to you to make some adjustments to your drinking, on a scale of 1 to 10? Where 1 is not at all important, not something you're thinking about, and 10 is most important thing.
human
Maybe a five or six.
gpt
And why did you say five or six rather than like two or three?
human
Because, um, it's not something I do not care about at all, but it's not something that's just constantly on my mind that I want to change about myself.
gpt
Okay. So, it is something you have thought about or something.
human
Yeah, yeah. Definitely.
gpt
Okay. And, how confident are you that you could make a change if you decide you wanted to on that same scale?
human
Um, I'm pretty confident that I can considering that I'm not really an alcohol user per se.
gpt
Mm-hmm.
human
I'm not really into that whole scene, so, it's-it's not gonna bedifficult for me.
gpt
So, what number do you think you'd say?
human
Um, on a scale of 1 to 10-
gpt
Mm-hmm.
human
-if I can quit or not?
gpt
Yeah.
human
Maybe like an 8 or 9.
gpt
Okay, and why'd you say 8 or 9 rather than even like 5 or 6?
human
Because, like I said, it's not a big part of my life. So, it's not really that difficult
gpt
Okay. All right. Well, kind of keeping that in mind, it sounds like, um, you do have sort of a-a vague plan to make some adjustments in your drinking at some point-
human
Yes.
gpt
-and, it's moderately important to you. It's something you would like to do because you have these big goals for yourself, and you actually feel very confident that you could be successful with it. What sort of goal do you think might be good to set for today?
human
Um, probably to stop, maybe next party I go to, not have a drink at all.
gpt
Okay. Um, do you feel pretty confident that you could just stop completely?
human
Yeah. I mean, I can just tell my friends-- My pa-- My friends aren't really that pressuring.
gpt
Uh-huh.
human
It's just like outside people that I don't really know that well.
gpt
Okay.
human
So, I could just tell them, "Hey, I don't feel like having a drink today."
gpt
What-what might be some benefits of following through with that goal?
human
Um, definitely, I'll have like all my senses there and I'll be aware of everything that's going on.
gpt
Uh-huh. Anything else?
human
Um, health concerns, I guess. I know alcohol is bad for your health.
gpt
Mm-hmm.
human
So, that would be one.
gpt
Okay. So, it's-- It sounds like you're actually pretty comfortable with setting a goal of not drinking anymore a-at least at the next part? and seeing how it goes.
human
Yeah.
gpt
Okay. Do you think it would be all right if we met again to kinda check in on how it goes and-and see if it's working out for you?
human
Yeah, that would be okay.
gpt
All right, great. And then, i-it sounds like some of the benefits you're expecting are, um, health benefits-
human
Yeah.
gpt
-having an easier time with achieving your academic and career goals, and just sort of not having to deal with some of the consequences that your peers do.
human
Right.
gpt
Okay. Well, very good. Um, is there anything else that you think would be important for me to know?
human
Um, how would you, um, advise me to like get maybe my friends to stop drinking?
gpt
Oh, that's a great question. So, a lot of times, kids who are trying to cut back, it's harder if their friends are still drinking, and one of the easiest things is trying to have more activities that don't involve alcohol, but-
human
Okay, yeah.
gpt
-of course, that's harder if you're not the one planning. So, some of the things that can be useful if you're at a party say, um, and there's already alcohol there, and there are other kids that maybe aren't your closest friends, um, some of the things that I would recommend since you're interested are, you know, carrying around a different drink that looks like it has alcohol in it. So, you know, even carrying an empty beer bottle or beer can or, you know, if people are having a mixed drink, just having the coke, say-
human
Oh okay.
gpt
-without any alcohol mixed into it. Um, often, having anything in your hand is a good barrier for people who are trying to offer you alcohol, because you already have something in your hand-
human
Yeah, that's a good idea.
gpt
-and it-it kinda, um, prevents them from trying to stuff something else in there. Do you think any of those things might work for you?
human
Yeah, for sure.
gpt
Okay. What about in terms of talking to your friends about it, have you thought about how you might approach with them or is that something else you'd like some tips about, about telling them about your plan to-
human
I mean-
gpt
-to stop drinking.
human
-I was just planning on telling them that I don't really want to drink anymore. That wasn't me.
gpt
Uh-huh.
human
So.
gpt
Your friends would be pretty comfortable with that?
human
Yeah. I mean, at least my closest friends, for sure.
gpt
Okay, great. Any other concerns or questions? Anything else I can help with?
human
No. No, I think I'm okay.
gpt
Okay. So then, like I said, um, I'll try and see if we can meet up maybe in a few weeks and see how it's going-
human
Okay.
gpt
-and then, um, if things are going great, then fantastic, and if you run into any stumbling blocks, then we can maybe problem-solve together.
human
Okay, great. Thanks.
gpt
That sound okay?
human
Yeah.
gpt
All right. Thanks so much.
human
No problem.