46_https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvaOXREccHI&feature=emb_title_reducing alcohol consumption
gpt
So, Jacob, everything looks very normal on your physical exam. Do you have any questions for me?
human
No.
gpt
Okay. I see that you filled out our, um, alcohol and drug questionnaire. Is it okay if we go through this together?
human
Sure.
gpt
Okay. What we talk about is confidential. I only tell your parents about what we say if you give your permission or if I become worried about a danger to-to you or to someone else. Does that make sense?
human
Yeah.
gpt
Okay. So, let's take a look. So I see that you have marked that you sometimes use alcohol, and that you have used alcohol to relax, feel better about yourself or fit in. Do you mind telling me a little bit more about your alcohol use?
human
It's not a big deal. Sometimes with my friends, we'll drink a few beers and when we're hanging out or when we're at a party, and sometimes rum and cokes.
gpt
Okay, so how many do you usually have at a time?
human
Um, three or four, probably. I don't keep track.
gpt
Okay. And how often?
human
Um, probably about once or twice a month.
gpt
Okay. So, you drink with friends, sort of three or four beers or mixed drinks, one or two times a month. How long have you been doing that?
human
Probably since last October.
gpt
So, for about six months. I'm curious. What do you like about drinking alcohol?
human
What do I like about it?
gpt
Yeah.
human
Um, I don't know. It's just fun to drink with my friends, like when we're at a party at someone else's house, and we're drinking with other people that we don't know. It tastes good.
gpt
Okay. So, it sounds like you feel relaxed and have fun when you're drinking with friends and you like the taste.
human
Mm-hmm.
gpt
Okay. I'm also curious, are there any parts about your alcohol use that you don't like?
human
Um, I don't like when I get sick in the mornings 'cause of hangovers and-
gpt
Mm-hmm.
human
-when I start throwing up, that's not- I don't like that.
gpt
Have you ever experienced a-a blackout, like when you've been drinking and you wake up and you don't remember what happened?
human
No, but that happened to someone I know, though.
gpt
Okay. And have you had any problems related to-to your drinking alcohol, like at home or school or somewhere else?
human
Um, one time I missed first period of school 'cause I had a hangover and I was late getting up.
gpt
Mm-hmm.
human
Mm, mom got mad at me 'cause I wouldn't get out of bed and she said she knew I had a hangover.
gpt
Mm-hmm. Have you told your mother that you drink with your friends?
human
No, but I got grounded for two weeks after that. [chuckles]
gpt
So more negative things about your drinking, like getting into trouble with your mom and missing a class at school when you had a hangover?
human
Yeah, but I only missed school once.
gpt
Okay. I see on the questionnaire that you have not ridden in a car with someone who's been drinking and you haven't driven a car, um, after you've been drinking. Is that correct?
human
Yeah.
gpt
That's great. And I hope you continue to avoid those things. As your doctor, I want you to know that I'm concerned about your drinking. When teens drink, things can go wrong, like injuring yourself. Even when you don't drink too excess, though, your brain is still developing and is very sensitive to the effects of alcohol.
human
Okay.
gpt
That's why I recommend that all my adolescent patients not drink at all. So if you were thinking today about how ready you feel to stop drinking alcohol on a scale of zero to ten, with zero not being ready at all and ten feeling very ready, what number would you pick?
human
Um, probably a five.
gpt
A five? So, I'm curious. Why didn't you pick a lower number like a two or three that would mean you're only a little bit ready to stop drinking?
human
Well, I guess I'm just tired of getting in trouble.
gpt
Okay. What could you do to avoid getting into trouble?
human
Um, not drink.
gpt
[chuckles] Have you ever tried not drinking or stopping drinking?
human
No, not really.
gpt
Okay. What some people your age do is try stopping drinking for a period of time just to see what that feels like.
human
I could probably do that.
gpt
So, how long do you think you could go without drinking?
human
I don't know.
gpt
Do you think you could go two months without drinking?
human
Yeah, probably.
gpt
Okay. What things would make it easier for you to not drink?
human
Um, I could probably drink something else when my friends are drinking, like just coke.
gpt
Anything else to make things easier for you?
human
I can probably hang out with some of my friends who don't drink or inviting them to parties and having fun 'cause not everyone drinks at parties.
gpt
Okay. Is there anybody in your life that you can talk to about this, who give you some support for not drinking?
human
Yeah. The-- My friends who don't drink would probably be happy that I'm not drinking either and yes, they'd support me.
gpt
Great. So you've come up with some reasons to stop drinking, like having hangovers and throwing up and getting into trouble. And you've developed some strategies to-to try to not drink, like spending more time with friends who don't drink or having non-alcoholic drinks when people around you are drinking alcohol. I think that's a great plan. I'm really proud of you for giving this a try. How about if I have you make an appointment for two months from now and then I'll see you back and we can see how things are going?
human
Okay.