Alateen is part of Al-Anon, which helps families
and friends of alcoholics recover from the effects of living with the problem drinking of a relative or friend. Alateen is
our recovery program for young people. Alateen groups are sponsored by Al-Anon members.
Our program of recovery is adapted from Alcoholics Anonymous
and is based upon the Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions, and the Twelve Concepts of Service.
The only requirement of membership is that there be a problem
of alcoholism in a relative or friend.
Al-Anon/Alateen is not affiliated with any other organization
or outside entity.
Younger people come together to:
- share experiences, strength, and hope with each other
- discuss their difficulties
- learn effective ways to cope with their problems
- encourage one another
- help each other understand the principles of the Al-Anon program
- learn how to use the Twelve Steps and Alateen's Twelve Traditions
Alateen is a fellowship of young Al-Anon members, usually teenagers,
whose lives have been affected by someone else's drinking.
Is Alateen For You?
Alateen is for young people whose lives have
been affected by someone else’s drinking. Sometimes the active
drinking has stopped, or the active drinker may not live with us anymore.
Even though the alcohol may be gone, and the alcoholic gone or recovering in
AA, we are still affected. Many of us have received help from Alateen or Al-Anon.
The following 20 questions are to help
you
decide whether or not Alateen is for you.
1. Do you believe no one could possibly understand
how you feel? _____
2. Do you cover up your real feelings by
pretending you don’t care? _____
3. Do you feel neglected, uncared for, or
unloved? _____
4. Do you tell lies to cover up for someone
else’s drinking or what’s happening in your home? _____
5. Do you stay out of the house as much as
possible because you hate it there? _____
6. Are you afraid or embarrassed to bring
your friends home? _____
7. Has someone’s drinking upset you?
_____
8. Are mealtimes, birthdays, and holidays
spoiled because of drinking or others’ reactions to the drinking? _____
9. Are you afraid to speak up for fear the
drinking or fighting will start again? _____
10. Do you think the drinker’s behavior
is caused by you, other members of your family, friends, or rotten breaks in life? _____
11. Do you make threats such as, “If
you don’t stop drinking and fighting, I’ll run away?” _____
12. Do you make promises about behavior,
such as I’ll “get better grades,” or “keep my room clean,” or “do anything you want,”
in exchange for a promise that the drinking and fighting will stop? _____
13. Do you feel that if the drinker loved
you, she or he would stop drinking? _____
14. Do you ever threaten or actually hurt
yourself to scare the drinker into saying, “I’m sorry,” or “I love you”? _____
15. Do you or your family have money problems
because of someone else’s drinking? _____
16. Are you scared to ride in a car with
the drinker? _____
17. Have you considered calling the police
because of abusive behavior? _____
18. Do you avoid dating or having close friends
because they may find out about the drinking or fighting? _____
19. Do you think your problems
would be solved if the drinking stopped? _____
20. Do you ever treat teachers, friends,
teammates, etc. unfairly because you are angry about someone else’s drinking? _____
If you have answered yes to any of these questions,
Alateen may help you.
You may call
the Al-Anon Information Service Line at 330-270-9441 for more information about Alateen.
For
times / locations of Alateen Meetings, visit our Meeting Page.
