Ontario South Assembly
Alateen
Support just for young people affected by someone else’s drinking located throughout Ontario South Assembly.
What is Alateen?
Alateen is for young people (20 or younger) with an alcoholic friend or family member (parent, sibling, grandparent, or anyone else who has a problem with drinking). Alateen is part of the Al-Anon Fellowship. Alateen follows the same principles as Al-Anon, but Alateen meetings are only for teens. All Alateen groups have a group sponsor who is a certified Al-Anon Member in Alateen Service (AMIAS). Alateen practices the same principles as Al-Anon, but Alateen meetings are only for younger members and they are more fun to attend than Al-Anon meetings!
There are no requirements to attend Alateen, except that you know or have known someone who has a problem with alcohol, now, or in the past. There are no fees to pay or rules about what to believe; you are welcome just as you are.
Our only purpose is to help families and friends of alcoholics. We do this by attending Alateen meetings to talk, listen, and learn from each other. There is no obligation to say anything, but you will be listened to when and if you choose to do so. In the meetings, you will find peers who are experiencing the same difficulties as yourself. We find hope with each other, despite many of us having suffered mental, emotional and sometimes abuse as a result of the family illness of alcoholism.
If you are between 10-20 years of age and have been affected by someone’s drinking, please consider visiting an Alateen meeting. You’ll meet other young people just like you who are experiencing similar feelings of pain and frustration. Alateens use the program to find serenity, even happiness, whether the other person is still drinking or not.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have more questions? Check out World Service Office’s Teen Corner (Alateen) and by reading P-41 Facts about Alateen
What happens in an Alateen Meeting?
Young people come together to share experience, strength and hope with each other. They discuss their difficulties and learn effective ways to cope with their problems that arise as a result of somebody else’s drinking. Alateen helps understand that compulsive drinking is a disease. It can help you detach yourself emotionally from the drinker’s problems. And you will learn that it is okay to love them despite their disease. You come to realize that you cannot cause, cure or control another person.
There is no Alateen meeting near me. Is there an online Alateen meeting in Ontario South?
There is an online Alateen meeting available in Ontario South. Please contact os.alateen.coordinator@gmail.com for more information.
What does an Alateen member share at a meeting?
“Sometimes it is really hard for me to tell you how deeply affected I’ve been by the disease of alcoholism. Many times I was afraid to tell you how much the drinking and fighting bothered me. I thought constantly about what was going on at home. It got in the way of my schoolwork and friendships. I was so embarrassed that I was afraid to bring my friends over and at times I didn’t even want to go home myself. I felt it was my fault we had so many problems but in Alateen I learned that alcoholism is a family illness. Alateen helped me realise it was not you I hated, but the disease.”
© Copyright A1 Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc. “Alateens share with adults in their lives”
Can I find a sponsor in Alateen?
Alateen groups can help you find a temporary or instant sponsor, who knows how to keep confidence and can introduce you to the principles of the program – and how to apply them in your life.
Ontario South Assembly is looking for volunteers to help grow Alateen
For more information read S-27 Alateen Sponsorship Is it for You? and contact the Alateen Coordinator
Has your life been affected by someone else’s drinking?
Take the teen quiz to see if Alateen could be helpful for you.