About Alateen

Who Are We?

Alateen, a part of Al-Anon, is a fellowship of young Al-Anon members (ages 12 to 18) 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

Alateen Meetings