For Houston and Surrounding Areas

General Information

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

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

Members are encouraged to read Al-Anon and Alateen Conference Approved Literature and materials. Written from members' personal sharings, these recovery tools can help them deal with their problems.

Sponsorship

In order to be registered as an Alateen group, there must be at least one Alateen Group Sponsor at each meeting (some areas recommend two Sponsors) who meets their area's Alateen requirements and is currently certified to be of service to Alateen through their own area Alateen process. Except for an annual or bi-annual open meeting, all Alateen meetings are closed meetings; only Alateens and their Group Sponsors attend the meeting, however designated area trusted servants may occasionally attend the meetings as a resource to the group per the area's Alateen requirements and process.

Sponsors are an active part of the group, guiding and sharing knowledge on our Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.

All Alateen Group Sponsors, even temporary or instant Sponsors, need to be certified through the area Al-Anon member involved in Alateen service certification process prior to serving.

Alateen Suggested Preamble to the Twelve Steps

Alateen, part of the Al-Anon Family Groups, is a fellowship of young people whose lives have been affected by alcoholism in a family member or close friend. We help each other by sharing our experience, strength and hope.  We believe alcoholism is a family disease because it affects all members emotionally and sometimes physically. Although we cannot change or control our parents, we can detach from their problems while continuing to love them.  We do not discuss religion or become involved with any outside organizations. Our sole topic is the solution of our problems. We are always careful to protect each other's anonymity as well as that of all Al-Anon and AA members.  By applying the Twelve Steps to ourseves, we begin to grow mentally, emotionally and spiritually. We will always be grateful to Alateen for giving us a wonderful, healthy program to live by and enjoy.