VENICE — Teenagers whose lives have affected by someone else’s drinking now have a local support group to seek help.
Falling under the umbrella of Al-Anon, a support program for friends and families of alcoholics, Alateen is now offering its services to teenagers ages 13-18.
After a brief hiatus due to COVID-19, Alateen meetings have returned to Grace United Methodist Church, 400 E. Field Ave., at 7 p.m. on Thursdays.
“You are not alone, and you can build friendships and community and support around this,” District 13 coordinator Carol Donnelly said, discussing Alateen’s message.
Al-Anon identifies alcoholism as a “family disease,” with the impact of the disease extending to the entire family unit, causing negative emotional, psychological and even physical effects.
Alateen helps to reduce this distress.
Through “sharing experiences, strength, and hope,” teenagers are able to find effective ways to cope with problems associated with another’s addiction, whether the drinker is in the teen’s life or not.