Al-Anon Family Groups

What Is Al-Anon?

The Al-Anon Family Groups are a fellowship of relatives and friends of alcoholics who share their experience, strength, and hope, in order 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, organization, or institution; does not engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any cause.

There are no dues for membership. Al-Anon is self-supporting through its own voluntary contributions.

Who Can Join Al-Anon Family Groups?

Al-Anon membership is open to anyone who is affected by someone else’s drinking. The only requirement for membership is that there be a problem of alcoholism in a relative or friend.

What Does Al-Anon Do?

Al-Anon has but one purpose: to help families of alcoholics. Al-Anon members 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.

How Does Al-Anon Work?

In Al-Anon, members do not give each other advice or direction, but share their own experience, strength and hope. Al-Anon meetings are usually topic discussion meetings, meaning that the leader of the meeting – or the group – chooses a topic and members take turns sharing their experience on that topic.

How Al-Anon helps members deal with dealing with an alcoholic is explained in the opening statement which is read at the beginning of most meetings.

How Do I Find a Meeting?

In some areas “Al-Anon” is listed in the white pages of the local phone book. If it is not listed sometimes a contact number for Al-Anon can be obtained by calling the number listed for “Alcoholics Anonymous.” A directory of Al-Anon information services/intergroups and national offices in the United States, Canada and worldwide are available on the Al-Anon Family Groups Headquarters web site.

Online meetings are also available, click here to find meetings on the Internet.

Source: Al-Anon Family Groups Headquarters