About Al-Anon

Al-Anon is a recovery program for families and friends of alcoholics, whether or not the alcoholic is still drinking. Alateen, a part of Al-Anon, is for teens and preteens affected by someone else's drinking, not for young alcoholics seeking sobriety for themselves. Alcoholics whose lives have been affected by another's drinking are welcome. For help with one's own drinking problem, please visit the Alcoholics Anonymous web site.

Background

When Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) began in 1935, close relatives of alcoholics discovered the benefits of living by AA's Twelve Steps. They found practicing the AA program themselves improved family relationships that often remained difficult even after the alcoholic became sober. Al-Anon, as a separate organization, began in 1951 when Bill W. (a founder of AA) suggested to his wife, Lois, that family members have their own fellowship. Since that time, Al-Anon has helped millions all over the world through 33,000 Al-Anon Family Groups in 50 states and 112 countries, the publication of literature (in 30 languages), provision of information for the public/media, and cooperation with the professional community. Alateen began in 1957.

Purpose

The Preamble to Al-Anon's Twelve Steps defines the purpose:

Al-Anon family groups are a fellowship of relatives and friends of alcoholics who share their experience, strength, and hope to solve their common problems. We believe alcoholism is a family illness and that changed attitudes can aid recovery.

Al-Anon is not allied with any sect, denomination, political entity, or institution; does not engage in any controversy, neither endorses or opposes any cause. There are no dues for membership. Al-Anon is self-supporting through its own voluntary contributions.

Al-Anon has but one purpose: to help families and friends of alcoholics. We do this by practicing the Twelve Steps, by welcoming and giving comfort to families of alcoholics, and by giving understanding and encouragement to the alcoholic.

© Al-Anon Family Groups Hdqs., Inc., Virginia Beach, VA. Reprinted with permission.

What Al-Anon/Alateen Members Learn

• Compulsive drinking is a disease.
• Other members of the family suffer from the effects of a loved one's drinking.
• Alcoholism is a family disease; the whole family needs to recover from its impact.
• We can detach ourselves emotionally from the drinker's problems while continuing to love the person.
• We have spiritual and intellectual resources with which to develop our own potentials, no matter what happens at home.
• We can build satisfying and rewarding life experiences for ourselves.
• We get better, "one day at a time," by attending meetings, reading Al-Anon/Alateen literature, using the phone list, finding a sponsor, and becoming involved in service.
• We didn't cause alcoholism, cannot control it, and cannot cure it.
• We can learn to understand ourselves and let go of fears, resentments, and self-pity.
• We can learn to apply the principles of the Steps, Traditions, and Concepts of Service to our daily lives.
• Guarding each member's anonymity is important, and gossip is detrimental to ourselves and Al-Anon.

We welcome you to try our program

To find out where meetings are held, click here. To learn more about Al-Anon literature, click here. To learn about the format of many of our meetings, click here.