Introduction

Al-Anon Family Groups is a community resource providing support to anyone affected by a relative or friend's drinking. There are over 24,000 Al-Anon and nearly 1,800 Alateen groups meeting in 131 countries.

Al-Anon:

• Has only one requirement for membership—each member has been affected by someone else's drinking.
• Is a fellowship of relatives and friends of alcoholics who meet anonymously 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, spiritually based, apolitical, welcomes all cultures, and is available almost everywhere.

Alateen

• Is part of the Al-Anon fellowship designed for the younger relatives and friends of alcoholics through the teen years.
• Members conduct their own meetings with the guidance of an Al-Anon member Sponso
• Follows the same Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions, and principles as Al-Anon.

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 personal Sponsor.
• Apply the Twelve Steps of recovery to their lives.
• Become involved in Al-Anon service work.