What is Alateen
Alateen is part of the Al-Anon fellowship designed for the younger relatives and friends of alcoholics through the teen years. Alateen members conduct their own meetings with the guidance of an Al-Anon member Sponsor. Alateen groups follows the same Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions, and principles as Al-Anon.
Alateen Groups
Children affected by alcoholism usually feel mixed emotions of love, hate, fear, and pity for their alcoholic relatives and friends, and have a deep need for help.
In Alateen, members learn to think as individuals without fear. They develop the ability to detach themselves emotionally from the alcoholics in their lives while retaining their love for them.
Many have found a new way of life in Alateen, a healthy program to live by and enjoy.
Alateen groups must have Sponsors who are active Al-Anon members and meet their area's minimum Alateen safety and behavioral requirements. Ideally, Sponsors should not be parents of members of the group.
Alcoholism, The Family Disease (P-4). Reprinted with permission of Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., Virginia Beach, VA
The Alateen Purpose
Alateen, part of the Al-Anon Family Groups, is a fellowship of young people whose lives have been affected by alcoholism in a family member or close friend. We help each other by sharing our experience, strength and hope.
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 solution of our problems. We are always careful to protect each other's anonymity as well as that of all Al-Anon and AA members.
By applying the Twelve Steps to ourselves, we begin to grow mentally, emotionally and spiritually. We will always be grateful to Alateen for giving us a wonderful, healthy program to live by and enjoy.
Reprinted with permission of Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., Virginia Beach, VA
In 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 |
Dear Mom & Dad,
Alcoholics suffer from alcoholism mentally, spiritually, and physically. Well, guess what? So does the family, regardless of age or maturity. I always used to hide my feelings, pretending that I didn't care when I was crying inside. Alateen has given me love, hope and the feeling that I'm not alone.
Please know that Alateen..
• is for kids like me who have been affected by someone else's drinking. |
• provides a safe place where I can share. |
• helps me understand the family disease of alcoholism. |
• is a place for me to learn to feel good about myself. |
• encourages me to change my attitude instead of reacting to the situation. |
• gives me the courage to detach with love. |
• is anonymous - we don't discuss what we hear or whom we see at meetings. |
• is grrrrreat! |
I hope this has given you both a clearer picture of Alateen's importance in my life. I guess I just want to tell you that I need Alateen.
P.S. Here's what our Alateen sponsor says about Alateen:
As an Alateen sponsor, I have a very special place in your child's life. I'm there to offer guidance at meetings and to provide a safe place in which Alateens can talk freely. A sponsor doesn't play the role of teacher, as we share rather than educate. I do not assume a parental role as I could never take your place.
We learn to respect children as people and they learn to trust us because we honor their confidentiality.
Try to remember, Alateen is NOT:
• A therapy program. |
• A program for teenagers with drinking or drug problems. |
• A place to complain about parents or any one else. |
• A place for fixing your child. |
• A baby-sitting service. |
• A social hangout. |
• A punishment tool; it's a recovery tool. |
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I wish I could convey to you how much your kids mean to me. I guess being there with them every week explains it. Each time I think of all the kids who've been helped and of all the fun I've had in the process of sponsoring, I now know how much I believe in Alateen.
If you ever have any doubts about your loved ones needing Alateen, keep this in mind: You don't have to drink to suffer from alcoholism.
How Can I Help My Children (P-9)., Reprinted with permission of Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., Virginia Beach, VA
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 |
Every Alateen group needs an active, adult member of Al-Anon to serve as sponsor. The sponsor is an active party 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 or Al-Anon.
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).
Please check our meetings list page to locate an Alateen Meeting near you. You can also contact us for more information by phone or e-mail.
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.
To view, and purchase, Alateen Literature, Click here to download CAL order form to order literature from Greater New York Al-Anon Family Intergroup, or order on-line from Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters.
Reprinted with permission of Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., Virginia Beach, VA
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