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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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