Members of Al-Anon cut a cake on the group?s 10th anniversary in Guwahati. Picture by Eastern Projections

Guwahati, Aug. 11: At an age when most children face no bigger crisis in life than having to drink the large glass of milk that their mothers thrust on them everyday, five-year-old Rakesh Baruah is having to deal with a father who drinks too much alcohol for his family?s good.

Last week, Rakesh (named changed) and seven other students of different schools in Guwahati came together to form a group called Alateen, affiliated to Alcoholics Anonymous, in a bid to learn how to wean their parents away from alcohol dependence.

On Sundays and other holidays, the group will meet to share their experiences and learn how to overcome the trauma of living with alcoholic parents.

?We are all from the same background and with similar problems. I hope we will be able to help each other out,? Rakesh said with the maturity of a much older child.

His friend Alakesh echoed him. ?We are just making a beginning. Hopefully, we will be able to change the way our parents lead their lives, and for the better.?

Alcoholics Anonymous is a US-based organisation that has been helping alcoholics and substance abusers around the world kick the habit and rehabilitate themselves through cathartic interactive sessions.

As the name suggests, Alcoholics Anonymous is about addicts helping themselves, while Alateen is for children from families devastated by alcoholism. Alateen was formed on the 10th anniversary of Al-Anon (Northeast), which has been helping family members of alcoholics cope with the common crisis in their lives.

?There is an alarming increase in the number of schoolchildren suffering because of alcoholic parents. Alateen will be able to help these children in many ways,? June P, co-founder of Al-Anon and Alateen in Calcutta, told The Telegraph.

June, 75, said members of Al-Anon?s Northeast chapter had been successful in reforming hundreds of alcoholics. She was here last week to attend the anniversary celebrations of Al-Anon.

?We treat alcoholism as a disease. Those who are suffering need care and attention. If you abuse an alcoholic, he or she will not change. Family members and children play the pivotal role in reforming alcoholics with love and caring,? she said.

Jahnabi B, a city-based lawyer, said her decision to join Al-Anon led to ?a miracle?.

?My husband was an alcoholic. I was frustrated with life and that also led to friction between us. But things changed as soon as I joined Al-Anon. When I started sharing my experiences with other Al-Anon members, I got the strength to bear with my husband?s habit and started giving him the necessary care,? she said.

Jahnabi?s husband is now an ?occasional drinker?.

Arup Bhattacharyya, founder of Alcoholics Anonymous in Guwahati, now manages a shelter for addicts, Resurrection Home, at Bonda.

?I was an alcoholic. But Alcoholics Anonymous and my wife helped me overcome this disease. The love and care of family members can do wonders. You must know how to behave with alcoholics,? he said.