NE OHIO AL-ANON GROUPS
ABOUT ALATEEN
- 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? __