The Wire

August is Alateen awareness month across Australia. Alateen is the adolescent recovery program offered by Al-Anon, a worldwide mutual support program for people whose lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking.

A 2015 study found more than one million Australian children are affected by the drinking of parents, carers or others close to them.

Alateen group sponsor and area coordinator for South Queensland, Veronica, has firsthand experience of being close to someone struggling with alcoholism. After being in the adult program for eight years, she decided to become an Alateen group sponsor to support young adults in a similar position.