GIVE THE GIFT OF HEALTH . . . AND SAVE
N iC ;;Sigari EE Rrsj•
UNTIL JUNE 1996
all over the country, seven days
a week. Some people attend dai-
ly; at some facilities there are
programs for virtually all ages,
so AA becomes, like the disease
itself, a family affair.
"It helps me come out of my
hiding places," said Julie, who
has been attending Al Anon
meetings for 14 years. "It helps
me be a better human being."
She has started bringing her
9-year-old son to pre-Alateen
meetings. He's been having
trouble in school, she said, and
won't talk about it. "Nonex-
pression is a typical problem in
the families of alcoholics," she
said.
A friend of hers is bringing
her son, too. "Kids don't know
how to do life," the friend said.
"If they aren't taught coping
skills at an early age, they will
use alcohol—and they will
abuse alcohol."
Not all of them are happy to
be here. One boy, asked why he
is attending, mutters, "My mom
makes me."
A girl, asked by a classmate
where her brother is, answers,
"He's lucky. He gets to stay
home."
Farmington Hills
Orchard Lake Rd. at 12 Mile
488-0220
Birmingham
646-8477
Rochester Hills
375-9707
Oxford
969-2244
DAWN
MICHIGAN'S #1
QUALITY TREADMILL
Alateen is like
Sunday school.
The lack of interest helps ex-
plain the short attention spans,
and the ensuing chaos.
But even the unruly ones
seem to have grasped at least
part of a key Al-Anon issue: de-
tachment. They have learned
that a parent's drinking prob-
lem is just that—the parent's
problem.
That is why the newcomer,
fantasizing about pouring out
Dad's booze, was swiftly cor-
rected by his more experienced
peers.
They also have learned—al-
though some in the field of sub-
stance-abuse treatment would
disagree—that alcoholism is a
disease.
"She can't help it," one girl
says while discussing her moth-
er's drinking. "She's sick."
A few tiny heads nod in
agreement.
The meeting winds down.
The basket for donations is
passed. A girl is selected to read
the closing, and over the din she
says, "Talk to each other, rea-
son things out with someone
else, but let there be no gossip
or criticism of one another. In-
stead, let the understanding,
love and peace of the program
grow in you one day at a time."
Then they all stand in a cir-
cle, hands joined. Before they
scatter to parents or siblings or
the snack machine, they share
one final chant:
"Keep coming back!" ❑
Come See Our New Largest
Showroom Conveniently
Located in the Orchard -12
Plaza (Northwest corner of
12 Mile and Orchard Lake
Road). Just Off 1-696 in
Farmington Hills or
Call 810-488-0220
On Woodward North of 14 Mile
THE ORIGINAL "TRY IT BEFORE YOU BUY IT" FITNESS DEALER
DONALD E. GALE, D.D.S.
AN- AEROBICS STUDIO
FITNESS
-11
Fitness Equipment
1°
Bring in this ad for
1 FREE Week of Classes!
(New Members Only)
353-2200
NEs T
vi% DENTURE
;
CENTER
4)00.
HARVARD ROW MALL
21774 WEST 11 MILE RD.
SOUTHFIELD, MI 48076
EXTRACTIONS
DENTURES & PARTIALS
RELINES & REPAIRS
(030 Value)
Place
Shops, behind MGM Bicycle)
33022 Northwestern Highway " We Bloomfield (At 14 Mile ... i lidadlAithey.0
............
.
. .
(810)
.....................
QUALITY DENTURES AT AFFORDABLE PRICES
30 YEARS' EXPERIENCE
• Bloom co Bloom •
• Registered Electrologists •
in the
JEWISH NEWS
Come and let us remove your unwanted hair problem and improve your appearance.
Call the Jewish News Advertising Department
354-6060
4=1•• ■ ••11111 ■
Near 12 Mile Rd. bet. Evergreen & Southfield
559-1969
Appt. Only. Ask For Shirlee or Debby
}
49