Alateen is a fellowship of young Al-Anon members, usually
teenagers, whose lives have been affected by
someone else's drinking.
Alateen is for young people whose lives have been affected by someone
else's drinking. Sometimes, the active drinking has stopped, or the active
drinker may not live with us anymore. Even though the alcohol may be gone,
and the alcoholic gone or recovering in AA, we are still affected. Many of us
have received help from Alateen or Al-Anon. The following twenty questions
are to help you decide whether or not Alateen is for you.
1. Do you believe no one could possibly understand
how you feel?
2. Do you cover up your real feelings by pretending
you don't care?
3. Do you feel nobody really loves you or cares
what happens to you?
4. Do you tell lies to cover up for some one 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 or embarrassed to bring your
friends home?
7. Has someone's drinking upset you?
8. Are holidays and gatherings spoiled because of
drinking or others' reactions to the drinking?
9. Are you afraid to speak up sometimes for fear it
will set off a drinking bout or start another fight?
10. Do you think the drinker's behavior is caused by
you, other members of your family, friends, or rotten breaks in life?
11. Do you make threats such as, "If you don't
stop drinking and fighting, I'll run away"?
12. Do you make promises about behavior, such as,
"I'll get better grades," "go to church," or "keep
my room clean" in exchange for a promise that the drinking and
fighting stop?
13. Do you feel that if your mom or dad loved you,
she or he would stop drinking?
14. Do you ever threaten or actually hurt yourself
to scare your parents into saying "I'm sorry," or "I love
you"?
15. Do you or your family have money problems
because of someone else's drinking?
16. Are mealtimes frequently stressful or delayed
because of drinking or fighting?
17. Have you considered calling the police because
of the abusive behavior in your home?
18. Have you refused dates because your date may
find out about the drinking or fighting?
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 of
these questions, Alateen may be able to help you.
