Professionals

Al-Anon Family Groups, which includes Alateen, has been in existence for over 50 years as a community resource providing support to those affected by someone else’s drinking. There are over 26,000 Al-Anon and Alateen groups meeting in 115 countries. Click here to see 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.

Pamphlets For Professionals

All posted Al-Anon/Alateen pamphlets have been reprinted with permission of Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., Virginia Beach, VA.  Please do not reprint or copy without the permission of Al-Anon Family Groups.

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