ALATEEN

What is Alateen?

Alateen is part of the Al-Anon fellowship and is for Young People who come together to:

• Share experience, strength and hope with each other.
• Discuss their difficulties and problems caused by their parent's drinking habits.
• Learn effective ways to cope with their problems.
• Confidentially support one another.
• Encourage one another.
• Help each other understand the principles of the Al-Anon program.

Is someone's drinking getting to you?

The following twenty questions are to 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 that you don't care?
   
   
3. Are holidays and gatherings spoiled because of drinking?
   
   
4. Do you tell lies to cover up for someone else's drinking or what's happening in your home?
   
   
5. Do you stay out of the house as much as possible because you hate it there?
   
   
6. Are you afraid to upset someone or fear it will set off a drinking bout?
   
   
7. Do you feel nobody really loves you or cares what happens to you?
   
   
8. Are you afraid or embarrassed to bring your friends home?
   
   
9. Do you think the drinker's behaviour is caused by you, other members of your family, friends, or rotten breaks in life?
   
   
10. Do you make threats such as, "If you don't stop drinking, fighting, I'll run away?"
    
    
11. Do you make promises about behaviour, such as, "I'll get better school marks, go to church or keep my room clean" in exchange for a promise that the fighting and drinking will stop?
    
    
12. Do you feel that if your mom or dad loved you, he or she 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 have money problems because of someone else's drinking?
    
    
16. Are mealtimes frequently delayed because of the drinker?
    
    
17. Have you considered calling the police because of the drinker's abusive behaviour?
    
    
18. Have you refused dates out of fear or anxiety?
    
    
19. Do you think your problems would be solved if the drinking stopped?
    
    
20. Do you ever treat people (teachers, schoolmates, team-mates, etc.) unjustly because you are angry at someone else for drinking too much?
    
    

If you answer Yes to three or more of these questions then Alateen is for you!

Remember It's Not Your Fault

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 behaviour.
• 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.

Meetings:

Alateen members meet in church halls, school rooms or other suitable places.

In the interest of safety of our Alateen members, meeting information is only available from our information centres. Contact alanongso@iafrica.com for more information.

Sponsorship:

Every Alateen group needs an active, adult member of Al-Anon to serve as sponsor. The sponsor is an active part of the group, guiding and sharing knowledge of our Twelve Steps and Traditions.

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 young people deal with their problems.

Please read sharings from other teenagers
on their experiences.

Elsewhere on the web:

• Also visit Alateen World Service's Website at
  www.al-anon.alateen.org

This is the official site of Al-Anon GSO South Africa produced
by grateful members carrying a message of hope.