About Alateen

Who are we?

Alateen 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/Alateen program
Learn how to use Al-Anon's Twelve Steps and Alateen's Twelve Traditions

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

Alateen members are helped when they:

Attend meetings on a regular basis
Make telephone contact with other Alateen members
Read Al-Anon/Alateen literature
Have another Alateen member as a sponsor
Apply the Twelve Steps of recovery to their lives
Become involved in Al-Anon service work

Take this [ 20-question self-quiz ] to see if Alateen may be helpful for you.

Alateen Meetings

Alateen meetings are held 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). Every meeting has at least two active, adult members of Al-Anon who serve as sponsors for the group, guiding and sharing knowledge of the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.

For information about Al-Anon/Alateen meetings in your area, please call the area office.

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Alateen Group Sponsorship

Every Alateen group needs at least two active, adult members of Al-Anon who can commit to serving as a sponsor to the group on a regular basis. Every sponsor goes through a certification process by AFG of Mass. to become an "Al-Anon Member Involved in Alateen Service" (AMIAS).

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Literature

Alateen literature is available for purchase through the Massachusetts Literature Distribution Center.

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