About Al-Anon - North State Al-Anon

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.

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

Is Al-Anon for me?

Take this quiz to see if Al-Anon is for you:
(click the icon below to take the quiz for adults, teens, and adults who grew up in an alcoholic home)

Self Assessment

How does Al-Anon Work?

The message of the Al-Anon Family Groups, Al-Anon and Alateen is one of hope. It is the story of men, women, and children who once felt helpless, lost and lonely because of another’s alcoholism. Although Al-Anon grew from a need expressed by family members of Alcoholics Aonymous, Al-Anon and Alateen offer help and hope to friends and families of alcoholics, whether the alcoholic is still drinking or not. While many of our m embers no longer maintain daily contact with an alcoholic, they seek the mutual support of Al-Anon and Alateen groups offer.

Al-Anon is a unique fellowship that unites members of different backgrounds in an inspiring endeavor: helping themselves and others to lead purposeful, useful lives by overcoming the frustration ad helplessness caused by close association with an alcoholic.”

–Quoted from the introduction to the Al-Anon/Alateen Service Manual

To view and/or download the service manual for free, click here or the link below:
https://al-anon.org/for-members/members-resources/manuals-and-guidelines/service-manual/

What to expect in a Meeting

Each person has their own unique way of experiencing meetings. And every group is a little bit different. Many of us were afraid of attending our first meeting. Here is a series of podcasts so you can hear Al-Anon/Alateen members talking about what meetings are like for them. We hope this helps to ease any fears you may be feeling of the unknown.

Click Here to listen:

https://al-anon.org/newcomers/first-steps-al-anon-recovery/

Anonymity

Read about anonymity in Al-Anon meetings.

Al-Anon Faces Alcoholism

Read the perspectives of Al-Anon members and professionals in our publication Al-Anon Faces Alcoholism.

Click the image below for a downloadable, digital copy of this helpful booklet for anyone who is asking for more information about Al-Anon/Alateen.

For printed copies, ask your group Literature coordinator or email Toby:
outreach district4@gmail.com

History of Al-Anon

How did Al-Anon get started? Read about milestones in Al-Anon’s history timeline.

Where did the name Al-Anon come from and why the dash (-)? Click here to read this short little story