Information About Alateen

What is Alateen?

Alateen is part of the Al-Anon AFG fellowship and is specifically designed for young people, aged twelve through nineteen, affected by a problem drinker and the altered dynamics created within the family structure due to the presence of the disease of alcoholism. Children who grow up in alcoholic homes are not only affected emotionally and physically by the problem drinker, but they also react to the changed behaviors demonstrated by other family members in their efforts to cope with this affliction. They are often fearful of sharing their feelings and experiences in the presence of adults.

Alateen groups provide a safe environment for teens to freely share their ideas and experiences with members of their own peer group in order to gain a better understanding of alcoholism. They learn to accept alcoholism as an illness, and so lessen its impact on their lives. By removing their preoccupation with the drinker's behavior, they are better able to focus on their own development and sense of identity.

With the guidance of two adult Al-Anon sponsors, Alateen members conduct their own group meetings. The Alateen program of recovery also practices the Al-Anon Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions and Principles. As part of the Al-Anon fellowship, Alateens participate in service work and attend District, Area, and National meetings, conferences and workshops.

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The following twenty questions may help you decide whether Alateen is for you.

1. Do you have a parent, close friend or relative whose drinking upsets you?

2. Do you cover up your real feelings by pretending you do not care?

3. Does it seem like every holiday is spoiled because of an individual 's drinking?

4. Do you hide the truth, or make excuses to cover up for someone else's drinking or for what's happening in your home?

5. Do you stay out of the house as much as possible because you hate it there because of a drinker's behavior?

6. Are you afraid to upset someone for fear it will set off a drinking spree?

7. Do you feel nobody really loves or cares what happens to you?

8. Are you afraid or embarrassed to bring your friends home because of an individual's drinking?

9. Do you think the drinker's behavior is caused by you, other members of your family, friends, or bad breaks in life?

10. Do you make threats such as, "If you don't stop drinking, fighting, etc., I'll run away"?

11. 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?

12. Do you feel that if your Mother or Father loved you, she or he would stop drinking?

13. Do you ever threaten or actually hurt yourself to scare your parents into saying, "I'm sorry," or "I love you?"

14. Do you believe no one could possibly understand how you feel?

15. Do you and the family have money problems because of someone else's drinking?

16. Are meal times frequently delayed because of the drinker?

17. Have you considered calling the police because of drinking behavior?

18. Have you refused dates out of fear or anxiety of how the drinker might act?

19. Do you think that if the drinker stopped drinking, your other problems would be solved?

20. Do you ever treat people such as teachers, friends, team mates, etc. unjustly because you are angry at someone else for drinking too much?

If you have answered YES to some of these questions, Alateen may be able to help you. For further information and details of your nearest group contact us now.

The San Antonio Al-Anon Alateen Information Service - SAAIS - is the focal point for Al-Anon family groups - AFG - and Alateen programs in the Greater San Antonio and Texas Hill Country areas of Texas providing Al-Anon group meeting schedule, event, contact, literature, and general information. Serving the Al-Anon family groups - AFG - and Alateen in Al-Anon District 12 and Al-Anon District 13 communities of San Antonio, Bandera, Boerne, Bulverde, Canyon Lake, Fredericksburg, Floresville, Ingram, Junction, Kerrville, Mason, New Braunfels, Seguin, and Universal City, and the counties of Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Frio, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, Mason, Maverick, Medina, Real, Uvalde, and Wilson of the Al-Anon East Texas Area 53.