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 20 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 neglected, uncared for, or
unloved? _____

4. Do you tell lies to cover up for someone
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 mealtimes, birthdays, and holidays
spoiled because of drinking or others’
reactions to the drinking? _____

9. Are you afraid to speak up for fear the
drinking or fighting will start again? _____

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,” or “keep
my room clean,” or “do anything you
want,” in exchange for a promise that the
drinking and fighting will stop? _____

13. Do you feel that if the drinker loved you,
she or he would stop drinking? _____

14. Do you ever threaten or actually hurt
yourself to scare the drinker 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 you scared to ride in a car with the
drinker? _____

17. Have you considered calling the police
because of abusive behavior? _____

18. Do you avoid dating or having close
friends because they 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 teachers, friends, teammates,
etc. unfairly because you are angry
about someone else’s drinking? _____

If you have answered yes to any of these questions, Alateen may help you.