Are you a teenager? Alateen might be for you!

By | November 8, 2019

Alateen is a fellowship of young Al-Anon members, usually teenagers, whose life have been affected by someone else’s drinking. Alateen is an integral part of the Al-Anon program. Although the age range is usually 13-18, each group can decide if they will include members younger than 13. As members approach the age of 18 they are encouraged to transition into Al-Anon while still attending Alateen meetings.

Here is a link to all current Alateen meetings:

You can use the link below to find a printable and downloadable PDF list of all Alateen meetings in Ontario South.

PDF Meeting Lists page

Online meetings

During the COVID-19 crisis many groups only have online meetings. For safety reasons, the credentials to attend online Alateen meetings have not been listed on this website or any of the other lists. Sometimes there is an email address to contact for a specific group’s online credentials; it not, you can always contact  os.alateen.coordinator@gmail.com to help and inform you. Please don’t let this deter you from going to a meeting: we have these guidelines in place for your personal protection.

If there isn’t an Alateen meeting in your area, as Alateen you are welcome to attend any Al-Anon meetings. Click the button ‘Find a meeting’ in the top of this page to see all meetings, Al-Anon and Alateen.

What goes on in 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 realise that you cannot cause, cure or control another person.

An Alateen member shares

“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”

Alateen groups can help you find a temporary or instant sponsor, who knows how to keep a confidence and can introduce you to the principles of the program – and how to apply them in your life.

20 questions 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 for 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 behavior 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 and fighting, 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 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 behavior?
  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, teammates, etc.) unjustly because you are angry at someone else for drinking too much?

If you answered “yes” to some or all of these questions, Alateen may help you.

© 1981 Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc. “Is Someone’s Drinking Getting to You?” (S-20)