What is Alateen? What You Need to Know

Alateen is a peer support program designed specifically for teenagers who are affected by someone else’s drinking. Whether it’s a parent, family member or someone close to you, living with the impact of alcohol addiction can feel confusing, stressful and isolating.

Alateen offers a safe, supportive space where you can connect with other teens who understand what you’re going through, learn healthier coping strategies and realize you’re not alone in your experiences.

Key Facts

• Alateen is separate from Al-Anon and AA but offers similar support tailored for teens.
• Meetings follow clear guidelines to protect privacy and safety.
• The focus is on helping you feel supported, manage emotions and share if you’re comfortable.
• Meetings are available in person, online or in hybrid formats.

Alateen: Support for Teens Affected by Someone Else’s Drinking

Alateen is a peer support program for teens affected by someone else’s drinking and is part of the Al-Anon Family Groups. It isn’t therapy, a place to confront the drinker or a program for stopping your own drinking. 

Although you will be talking to other teens, it is not a social hangout. It is meant to support your needs during tough times.

Alateen vs Al-Anon vs AA

Alateen supports teens affected by someone else’s drinking, Al-Anon serves adults in similar situations and AA is for people concerned about their own drinking.

Families often attend different groups at the same time, with each fellowship supporting specific needs and experiences.

Is Alateen Right for You?

Alateen helps you realize you didn’t cause, can’t control and can’t cure someone else’s drinking, while giving support, coping skills and connection with peers who understand.

You might find these meetings helpful if you can relate to any of the following:

• You feel stressed or tense at home.
• You feel like you’re walking on eggshells.
• You deal with shame or keep family secrets.
• You feel angry, confused or overwhelmed.
• You struggle with guilt or loneliness.
• You feel responsible for the person who drinks.

If someone else’s drinking affects you, that’s enough to benefit from Alateen. And if you’re not ready to talk, that’s okay too. You can listen to others’ stories and feedback.

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How Alateen Meetings Work

Most Alateen meetings are simple, relaxed and last about an hour.

Here’s what usually happens:

• Welcome and opening: The meeting starts with a quick welcome and a few short readings.
• Readings or topic discussion: The group may read something or discuss topics such as stress, family conflict or dealing with emotions.
• Sharing: People can share if they want to, but there is zero pressure to talk.
• Closing: The meeting ends with a brief closing.

There’s no spotlight, no calling on you and no expectation to say anything. You can learn coping tools and hear from other teens who understand what you’re going through.

Privacy and Safety at Alateen Meetings

Alateen values anonymity and privacy, so members use first names and follow the “what’s shared here stays here” rule, creating a safe space to share and listen.

This helps create a space where you can feel more comfortable and less judged and safe enough to be honest, listen openly, and speak without worrying about gossip or drama outside the group.

Trained adult sponsors (AMIAS) support safety and structure without taking over the teens’ space.

What You Can Learn in Alateen

Alateen helps you manage the stress and emotions related to someone else’s drinking.

You’ll learn tools like setting boundaries, detaching with love, asking for help and focusing on what you can control. 

You may also use slogans like “One day at a time” and develop skills for handling strong emotions and conflict at home, at school or with friends.

How to Find an Alateen Meeting Near You

You may want to first try searching Google for “Alateen meeting near me.”

If you don’t get a solid answer, you can search for meetings through official Al-Anon/Alateen directories, local community listings or a school counselor or support staff.

You are likely to find several meeting formats, including in-person, online and hybrid.

Check the meeting’s date, time, format, age guidelines and location or login info. If no local Alateen group exists, try virtual/hybrid meetings, teen support options or attend Al-Anon with a trusted adult; support is still available.

Online Alateen and the Al-Anon Family Groups App

Alateen meetings are available online in secure, teen-focused rooms with trained adult sponsors. You’ll need a device, a stable internet connection and a private space.

You can just listen if you want. If safety or privacy is a concern, reach out to a trusted adult, counselor, or Alateen resources for guidance.

Staying Safe Online

Online meetings are designed to be safe, but protecting your privacy is still important.

Simple ways to protect yourself include:

• Use a screen name instead of your full name.
• Avoid sharing personal details (last name, school, address, social media, etc.).
• Consider using headphones for extra privacy.
• Be mindful of camera and chat settings.

It’s okay to protect your space. You can leave the meeting at any time, and you don’t have to respond to anything that feels weird or unsafe.

Always let a sponsor or trusted adult know if something feels off. Meetings are meant to support you, not to make you feel unsafe.

Alateen Program Basics

Alateen meetings are built around a few core ideas that help create structure, safety and shared understanding. You may hear references to the Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions and Alateen literature.

The Twelve Steps

Alateen uses the Twelve Steps as a personal coping framework, not a test or source of blame. They help you understand what you can control, manage stress, build self-awareness and feel less overwhelmed—at your own pace.

The Twelve Traditions

The Twelve Traditions guide meetings to stay safe and supportive, emphasizing unity, respect, privacy and avoiding outside conflicts so the group can focus on supporting you.

Alateen Literature

Readings and literature are a regular part of meetings. They help by offering relatable stories and experiences, reinforcing coping tools and perspectives and giving you activities you can use between meetings.

Many teens find that hearing or reading familiar concepts makes things feel clearer and less isolating.

Alateen FAQs

Call A Treatment Provider

For a conversation about what treatment options are available to you.

Make a Call

800-985-8516
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