Alateen Members
whose lives have been affected by someone else’s problem drinking.
It is a place where members come together to:
- share experiences, strength, and hope with each other to find effective ways to cope with struggles in their lives.
- discuss difficulties and encourage one another.
- help each other understand the principles of the Al-Anon program through the use of the Twelve Steps and Alateen’s Twelve Traditions.
Alateen members learn that:
- 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 potential, no matter what happens at home.
- they can build satisfying and rewarding life experiences for themselves.
Sponsorship
Alateen Group Sponsors
Every Alateen group needs two active, adult members of Al-Anon, accredited by their local Area as Al-Anon Members Involved in Alateen Service (AMIAS) to serve as sponsors. The sponsors are an active part of the group, guiding and sharing knowledge of the Twelve Steps and Traditions.
Alateen Personal Sponsors
Just as Al-Anon members sponsor each other, Alateens sponsor each other. Alateen personal sponsors are fellow teenagers and peers who can discuss personal problems or questions with those individual Alateen members they sponsor. This sponsorship takes place outside of the Al-Anon/Alateen meetings. Therefore any form of supervision for the sponsors when working one on one with their peers is a family responsibility because it is outside of Al-Anon’s realm of influence.
Meetings:
Alateen members meet virtually online and face-to-face in church halls, school rooms or other suitable places (usually in the same building as an Al-Anon group, but in a separate room). A list of Alateen meetings in South Africa can be found here: https://www.alanon.org.za/meetings
Alateen Online
Teen Corner
A place just for teens affected by someone else’s alcoholism, can be safely accessed at the Al-Anon World Service Office website online here: https://al-anon.org/newcomers/teen-corner-alateen/. Members can browse Alateen literature, get information on international Online Chat Meetings and read shares from other Alateen members from all over the world.
Alateen Talk
Members can subscribe to a quarterly newsletter Alateen Talk or view exerpts from the magazine:
http://al-anon.org/members/alateen/for-alateen-members
Alateen Literature
Alateen members are encouraged to read Alateen Conference Approved Literature (CAL) and materials. Written from members’ personal sharings, these recovery tools can help young people deal with their problems.
Alateen: Hope for children of alcoholics
Now also available as an eBook
Courage To Be Me: Living with Alcoholism
Alateen: a day at a time Daily reader
Living TODAY in Alateen Daily reader
Other Alateen books and pamphlets include:
- ‘Alateen Do’s and Don’ts’
- ‘Alateen talks back on acceptance’
- ‘Alateen talks back on detachment’
- ‘Dear mom & dad’
- ‘Alateen talks back on serenity’
- ‘Youth and the alcoholic parent’
To request prices or to purchase literature please contact your local Area Service Office https://www.alanon.org.za/contact-us/ or the General Service Office: alanonct@iafrica.com
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