Alateen
Alateen, part of the Al-Anon Family Groups, is a fellowship of young Al-Anon members, usually teenagers, whose lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking. 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 Can Help
We believe alcoholism is a family disease because it affects all the members emotionally and sometimes physically. Although we cannot change or control our parents, we can detach from their problems while continuing to love them. We do not discuss religion or become involved with any outside organizations. Our sole topic is the solutions of our problems. We are always careful to protect each other’s anonymity as well as that of all Al-Anon and AA members.
Is Someone's Drinking Getting To You?
Alateen is for young people whose lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking. The following 20 questions are to help you decide whether of not Alateen is for you. If you have answered yes to some of the questions, Alateen may help. Check out the Alateen meeting schedule to find a meeting near you.
- Do you have a parent, close friend or relative whose drinking upsets you?
- Do you cover up your real feeling by pretending you don’t care?
- Are holidays and gatherings spoiled because of drinking?
- Do you tell lies to cover up for someone else’s drinking or what’s happening in your home?
- Do you stay out of the house as much as possible because you hate it there?
- Are you afraid to upset someone for fear it will set off a drinking bout?
- Do you feel nobody really loves you or cares what happens to you?
- Are you afraid or embarrassed to bring your friends home?
- Do you think the drinker’s behavior is caused by you, other members of your family, friends, or rotten breaks in life?
- Do you make threats such as, “If you don’t stop drinking, fighting, I’ll run away”?
- Do you make promises about behavior, such as, “I’ll get better school marks go to church or keep my room clean” in exchange for a promise that the drinking and fighting stop?
- Do you feel that if your mom or dad loved you, she or he would stop drinking?
- Do you ever threaten or actually hurt yourself to scare your parents into saying “I’m sorry”, or “I love you”?
- Do you believe no one could possibly understand how you feel?
- Do you have money problems because of someone else’s drinking?
- Are mealtimes frequently delayed because of the drinker?
- Have you considered calling the police because of the drinker’s abusive behavior?
- Have you refused dates out of fear or anxiety?
- Do you think your problems would be solved if the drinking stopped?
- Do you ever treat people (teachers, schoolmates, teammates, etc.) unjustly because you are angry at someone else for drinking too much?
If you have answered yes to some of the questions, Alateen may help. Check out the Alateen meeting schedule to find a meeting near you.