CFC#12020
Have a parent who drinks too much or uses drugs? You don't have to go through it alone.
Please don’t forget these four facts. They come in handy when you least suspect it.
NACoA partners with the I AM ME app to help educate all young people between the ages of 11-24 to understand how they can take an active role in looking after their own mental health and wellbeing.
It is important to understand more about yourself, what impacts your mental health, become more comfortable in your own skin, and create your own definition of success and sense of purpose.
This FREE app provides
• relevant articles
• self-help tools
• mood indicator
• stress tracker
• personal development tips
• specialist tools
• tips, audios, inspiring messages and video content
• I am me app available for download in App Store and Google Play.
What teenagers are saying:
• Erin, age 17: “Having access to i am me would have made such a difference in my life. It provides a sense of guidance and clarity that can truly boost self-confidence and alleviate stress.”
• Alex, age 19: “i am me is a game-changer. It offers the support system I wish I had during the toughest moments of my adolescence.”
Click below for timely and informative announcements, events, educational articles and more.
Alcohol use disorder is a medical condition that makes it hard for someone to control their drinking. It’s not just about willpower—it’s a brain condition that affects behavior and decision-making. When someone has an alcohol use disorder, they need support and treatment to stop drinking, just like with other health conditions.
There’s no single reason why someone develops alcohol use disorder. Although some people are predisposed to AUD because of their genetics (family history). Some people start drinking occasionally and eventually lose control over it. Others might drink to deal with stress, sadness, or anxiety, but over time, their body and brain start to rely on alcohol to feel “normal.” Once that happens, and it starts to really disrupt their lives, with negative consequences for themselves and/or their family, it’s really tough to stop without professional help.
At first, many people with alcohol use disorder don’t realize they have a problem. Even when they do, they might not connect their struggles to drinking. Instead, they might blame their stress, their job, or other people. Asking for help can be hard, and stigma makes it even harder. But with support and treatment, people can recover. Families and friends can play a particularly vital role in helping a person with an AUD get the help they need.
​No. Alcohol use disorder is a chronic, progressive, treatable, and potentially fatal disease that can affect anyone, young or old, rich, or not, no matter where they come from or what they believe in. It is a health condition, that can be inherited, it’s not a choice, and it doesn’t discriminate.
​No, and that can be really frustrating. Family members encourage the person to get help and support. At the same time family members need to make sure they take care of their own emotional health, too.
We used to believe that people with the disease of addiction had to “hit rock bottom” before they could get help. But think about it—when someone has cancer, we don’t wait until it reaches Stage IV to treat them. We get them help as soon as possible. The same should be true for alcohol use disorders.
Family and friends can support a loved one by encouraging them to seek treatment. They can also reach out to an interventionist; a trained professional who helps families guide their loved ones toward treatment for substance use disorders. Early intervention can make all the difference in recovery.
Around 11 million kids in the U.S. have a parent who struggles with alcohol use disorder. That means if you’re dealing with this, you’re definitely not alone. There might even be a few people in your school or neighborhood going through the same thing.
You don’t have to deal with this alone. Talk to someone you trust—a teacher, coach, school counselor, or another safe adult. There’s also a group called Alateen, where kids and teens with parents who have alcohol use disorders support each other. You can find meetings online by searching “Alateen” or going to www.Al-Anon.org, and your city or state.
Yes, you can. If you have a parent or close family member with alcohol use disorder, you are at a higher risk of developing it yourself. That’s because addiction is partly hereditary – it runs in families.
FYI, the younger you are when you start drinking, the greater your risk of developing alcohol use disorder later in life. Your brain is still developing until about age 25 and drinking under the age of 21 can interfere with that process. The best way to protect yourself? Don’t even taste alcohol until you’re of legal age. The longer you wait, the better chance you have of avoiding alcohol-related problems. Protect Your Brain!
There’s no cure, AUD is a disease, and recovery is possible. The only way to manage alcohol use disorder is to work toward reduced drinking and/or stop completely with help and treatment. Some people may need medications to support their recovery and to ease the “cravings” for alcohol. Many people in recovery say that while it’s tough, it’s worth it. With support, people can live healthy, happy lives without alcohol. Most people in recovery will subscribe to some kind of recovery support model like a 12-step program, ongoing therapy, and support groups. Family involvement in the person’s recovery is really important for the family to understand the disease of addiction/AUD, and to move toward healthier family functioning in early recovery.
Alateen is part of Al‑Anon Family Groups. Alateen is a fellowship of young Al-Anon members, usually teenagers, whose lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking. Alateen groups are sponsored by Al-Anon members who help the group to stay on track. You can learn more about Alateen meetings and read about others’ experiences at Teen Corner.
Alateen offers help 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 in the household anymore. Even if the alcoholic is receiving treatment, or has moved out, we are still affected. Here are frequently asked questions to help decide whether or not Alateen is for you.
it’s very difficult when one (or both) of your parents has a drinking problem. It affecdts how you are treated and shapes your world. This newsletter features articles written by Alateen members, sharing their experience as children of alcoholics and the ways that Alateen impacted and improved their lives.​
Young people aged 13 to 18 who have been affected by someone else’s drinking are invited to share experience, strength, and hope with other teens at Alateen Chat Meetings. Meetings are moderated, and teens can only chat when adult Alateen Group Sponsors are present. At this time, chat meetings can only be accessed on a computer (rather than on mobile devices). Check out the
Check for meetings in your area. Or, you can search on the internet for Alateen and include your city, county or state. You can also email questions to wso@al-anon.org. When Alateen meetings are not available in your community, family members who are 12 years or older may attend a regular Al-Anon Family Group or Al-Anon adult children of alcoholics group meetings.
When you go to a meeting for the first time, you will probably see some signs helping direct you to the room. If not, don’t be afraid to ask someone. Usually people are very helpful, and you may ask someone who is going to the meeting as well.
Alateen materials reprinted with permission., AFG, Inc., Virginia Beach, VA
Locating a meeting in the US. US, Canada or Puerto Rico. Note: When Alateen meetings are not available in their community, younger family members who are over 12 years old may attend a regular family group. You can also call 888-425-2666 (888-4AL-ANON) Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm EST for information in Canada and the US. or email .
