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.  Contact Us

Alateen is:

… a fellowship of young Al-Anon members, usually teenagers, whose lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking.

Purposes of Alateen

Young People Come Together To:

• share experience, 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

Alateen Members Learn

• compulsive drinking is a disease
• they can detach themselves emotionally from the drinker’s problems while continuing to love the person
• they are not the cause of anyone else’s drinking or behavior
• they cannot change or control anyone but themselves
• they have spiritual and intellectual resources with which to develop their own potentials, no matter what happens at home
• they can build satisfying and rewarding life experiences for themselves.

Sponsorship

Every Alateen group needs Al-Anon Sponsors who are a minimum of 21 years old, currently attending AlAnon meetings, are active members of Al-Anon for at least two years in addition to any time spent in Alateen, and meet their area requirements. Sponsors are an active part of the group, guiding, and sharing knowledge of our Twelve Steps and Traditions.  Members of Alateen can also choose to have a
personal sponsor, who can be another member of Alateen.

Where Alateens Meet

Alateen members meet in church halls, school rooms or other suitable places (many times in the same building as an Al-Anon group, but in a separate room.

Alateen Literature

Members are encouraged to read Al-Anon and Alateen Conference Approved Literature and materials.  Written from members’ personal sharings, these recovery tools can help them deal with their problems.