Ashtabula, Ohio – Alateen meetings

What is Alateen?

Alateen is a group of young teenagers and young adults whose lives have been affected by someone who has a drinking problem. By going to a meeting, teenagers and young adults can meet others who have had similar situations with someone whom they know has an addiction to drinking.

Alateen is not a meeting for people who are battling with alcohol or to complain about a loved one who does. It is a group for encouragement and education on how to cope with the addicted loved one.

Alateen has weekly/daily support group meetings. Family members are welcome, the age group is focused on teenagers and young adults.

The goal of Alateen is not to provide any interventions or try to convince a loved one to stop the addiction to drinking, but it is a place to come together and share personal experiences.

Alateen is a beneficial program because it provides coping strategies to teenagers and young adults affected by a loved one’s alcohol addiction.

Alateen members come to meetings because they are too steeped in someone else’s addiction and the meetings allow them to educate themselves with coping behaviors to separate themselves.

Alateen has meetings scheduled around the world and there are many meetings that take place each week in the Ashtabula, Ohio area.

The meetings are run by facilitators who have a certified Alateen group sponsor present.

There are several different types of Alateen meetings, including:

• Beginners meetings- These are designed especially for new teenagers and young adults and can be held as an extension of another Al-Anon meeting.
• 12-Step Study meetings – These meetings walk members through the 12-Step Study. This involves exploring the 12 step program which is used in AA and Al-Anon.
• Open sessions – These are meetings that allow families to be present during the meeting. Members who have attended regularly are allowed to actively participate, which decreases the stress that some teenagers might feel during the first meeting.
• Closed meetings – Members and prospective members are welcome to attend.
• Specific Group Gatherings – These meetings are restricted to certain group characteristics.  For example, there are women-only meetings, newcomers’ meetings, members of the LGBT community, and various religions.
• Online meetings – These work for those in remote areas where finding nearby meetings is difficult or for people who are unable to leave their homes. It very popular among teenagers.

What to Expect During Alateen Meetings

Every Alateen meeting type has a different format that participants follow depending on the type of meeting that is participated in.

Many Alateen meetings are held at churches however, it is not a religious organization and it is not part of any particular belief.  The belief is in a higher power.

Alateen meetings are not counseling sessions but teach methods of learning how to cope with the behavior of the loved one, learn how to take care of themselves.

Sometimes teenagers and young adults are often concerned about what to expect when attending an Alateen meeting for the first time. They might feel nervous that they will be put on the spot.

The new member will always be welcomed in an open and friendly fashion. It is important for new participants to feel comfortable sharing their experiences and struggles with the group as they become more comfortable.

During Alateen meetings, any of the following may happen:

• Visitors and new members are asked to introduce themselves by their first names.
• Members will learn that alcoholism is a disease.
• Group meetings allow members to express themselves and share experiences about what it is like to deal and live with an alcoholic.
• The meeting will begin with a reading from the Twelve Steps.
• Some meetings will start with the Serenity Prayer.
• Members may be asked to share on specific topics that are preplanned.
• There may be an open discussion, during which time, anyone can share with the group.
• Confidentiality will be stressed at the end of the meeting so that information is only shared within the group.

Why is Attending Addiction Recovery Meetings Important?

Attending addiction recovery meetings can be accommodating for people who are recovering from an addiction or know someone that cares for who is. This is supportive because the person can get advice on how to manage the problem and they might not feel like they are the only person who is going through this situation.

Some of the benefits of attending recovery meetings are:

• Understanding the implications of addiction and how to handle barriers for the person who is on the road to recovery.
• Allows one to express circumstances without being judged.
• Learning how to manage the addiction of themselves or for another person.
• Having the opportunity of not being alone and being around others to share personal experiences.

Support groups like Alateen make it possible for people to get the help they need and to feel understood by others who have been down a similar road.

According to the Ashtabula County Health Assessment:

• 1% of adults use a program or service to help with alcohol problems for a loved one.
• 11% of adults discussed alcohol use with a doctor or health professional.
• 15% had someone close to them that had a problem with drinking.

Traveling to SpringBoard Recovery in Arizona for Drug and Alcohol Rehab

People often choose to travel from Ashland, Ohio to SpringBoard Recovery for drug and alcohol rehab. There are numerous reasons why someone might make that decision, including:

• Working with their personal insurance to find a treatment program that will accept it.
• Finding a private setting will allow oneself to get away from their home and focus on oneself during the recovery process.
• If the person is highly visible in the public, being away from the home area will allow the person to be out of the public eye and focus on personal recovery.
• Wanting to participate in a recovery option that is not given at nearby recovery centers that the person lives near.
• Getting away from a home area can allow the person to get away from triggers that might hinder the recovery process.

At SpringBoard Recovery, we offer recovery housing as well as our addiction treatment program. We are here to help. Please contact us today to learn more.

Attending Alateen can be very helpful, and many teenagers and young adults have gotten the support they need for themselves and manage family members.