Alateen is a fellowship of young Al-Anon members, usually teenagers, whose lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking. Young people come together to:

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 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 members are helped when they:

▪ Attend meetings on a regular basis

▪ Make telephone contact with other Alateen members

▪ Read Al-Anon/Alateen literature

▪ Have another Alateen member as a sponsor

▪ Apply the Twelve Steps of recovery to their lives

▪ Become involved in Al-Anon service work

Alateen Meetings

Alateen meetings are held in church halls, school rooms or other suitable places (many times in the same building as an Al-Anon group, but in a separate room). Every meeting has at least two active, adult members of Al-Anon who serve as sponsors for the group, guiding and sharing knowledge of the Twelve Steps.

For information about Al-Anon/Alateen meetings in your area, please call the area office.

Alateen Group Sponsorship

Every Alateen group needs at least two active, adult members of Al-Anon who can commit to serving as a sponsor to the group on a regular basis. Every sponsor goes through a certification process by Memphis Area AIS to become an “Al-Anon Member Involved in Alateen Service” (AMIAS).

Take this self-quiz to see if Alateen may be helpful for you.