ALATEEN is a fellowship of young Al‑Anon members, usually teenagers, whose lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking.

PURPOSES OF ALATEEN
Young People Come Together To:

• Share experience, strength and hope with each other.
• Discuss their difficulties.
• Learn effective ways to cope with their problems.
• Encourage one another.
• Help each other understand the principles of the Al-Anon program.
• Learn how to use the Twelve Steps and Alateen’s Twelve Traditions.

GROUP SPONSORSHIP
Every Alateen group must have at least one active adult member of Al‑Anon to serve as group sponsor. Sponsors are an active part of the group, guiding and sharing knowledge of our Twelve Steps and Alateen Traditions. To serve as sponsors, they must be AMIAS (Al‑Anon Members Involved in Alateen Service), that is, they must have satisfied all requirements of the Area Alateen safety policy. This includes passing a background check. Interested in Alateen sponsorship? See the Alateen Sponsors’ page. AMIAS are the only adults who may attend Alateen meetings.

ALATEEN MEETINGS
Alateen members meet in church halls, school rooms or other suitable places. Sometimes they are in the same building as an Al‑Anon group, but in a separate room. A complete schedule of Twin Cities area Alateen groups is available on this web site.

ALATEEN MEMBERS LEARN:

• Alcoholism 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 behavior.
• 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.

ALATEEN LITERATURE
Members are encouraged to read Al-Anon and Alateen Conference-Approved Literature and materials, including the Alateen Talk newsletter. Written from members’ personal sharings, these recovery tools can help young people deal with their problems.

ALATEEN PREAMBLE TO THE TWELVE STEPS (approved by WSC April 2021)
Alateen, part of Al-Anon Family Groups, is for young people who have been affected by alcoholism in a family member or friend. We help each other by sharing our experience, strength, and hope.

We believe alcoholism is a family disease affecting everyone emotionally and sometimes physically. Although we cannot change or control the alcoholics in our lives, we can detach from their problems while continuing to love them.

In Alateen we focus on our own program rather than outside issues such as religion, politics, social media, or other Twelve Step programs. There are no dues for membership. Alateen is self-supporting through its own voluntary contributions. Alateen has one purpose: to help young people affected by someone else’s drinking. We are careful to protect each other’s anonymity as well that of all Al-Anon and A.A. members.

By applying the Twelve Steps to ourselves, we begin to recover from the effects of the family disease of alcoholism mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. This allows us to encourage our alcoholic relatives and friends, and to give hope to other teens.

Reprinted with permission of Al-Anon Family Group
Headquarters, Inc. Virginia Beach, VA.

Updated 2 January 2024