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Facts For Professionals

Al-Anon is a mutual support group of peers who share their experience in applying the Al-Anon principles to problems related to the effects of a problem drinker in their lives. It is not group therapy and is not led by a counselor or therapist; This support network complements and supports professional treatment. Click here for more facts and what some professionals say about Al-Anon.

Al-Anon:

  • Has only one requirement for membership — each member has been affected by someone else’s drinking.

  • Is an anonymous fellowship of relatives and friends of alcoholics who meet to share their experience, strength and hope in order to solve their common problems; adult children of alcoholics, parents, partners, spouses, co-workers, etc., can all find help in Al-Anon.

  • Is a separate fellowship from Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Al-Anon is based on the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions adapted from AA.

  • Is nonprofessional, self-supporting, nondenominational, multiracial, apolitical, and is available almost everywhere.

Alateen:

  • Is part of the Al-Anon Fellowship designed for the younger relatives and friends of alcoholics through age eighteen.

  • Members conduct their own meetings with the guidance of an Al-Anon sponsor.

  • Follows the same Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions and principles as Al-Anon.

People Are Referred to Al-Anon/Alateen Group Meetings:

  • To learn the facts about alcoholism as an illness and how it has impacted their lives physically and emotionally.

  • To benefit from contact with others who have similar problems.

  • To improve their own attitudes and behaviors through the study and practice of the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.

Al-Anon and Alateen Members are Helped When They:

 

  • Attend meetings on a regular basis.

  • Make telephone contact with other members.

  • Read Al-Anon/Alateen literature.

  • Have a sponsor.

  • Apply the Twelve Steps of recovery to their lives.

  • Become involved in Al-Anon service work.

Al-Anon/Alateen Groups Do Not:

  • Give advice.

  • Indulge in gossip or criticism.

  • Discuss members’ religious beliefs, or lack of them.

  • Endorse or oppose any cause, therapy or treatment.

Al-Anon/Alateen is Self-Supporting:

  • Through the voluntary contributions of members; there are no dues or fees for membership.

  • Does not accept any outside fund, grants or donations.

Al-Anon/Alateen is Anonymous:

  • The identity of all Al-Anon and Alateen members, as well as members of Alcoholics Anonymous, is protected.

  • Confidentiality is allowed to develop from a sense of trust and honesty.

  • The focus is on spiritual principles, not personalities, which leads to a fellowship of equals.

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(c) Montana District 8 Al-Anon 2022

Since this site is a public medium with potential for reaching the broadest possible audience, it, therefore, abides by the same anonymity safeguards that are used at the level of press, radio, TV, and films. To preserve personal anonymity, names are not given.  WSO postings reprinted with permission of Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., Virginia Beach, VA. Suggested Preamble reprinted with permission from the Al-Anon/Alateen Service Manual (P-24/27), © 1992, Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.

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