Al-Anon Family Groups, which include Alateen, has been in existence for over 50 years as a community resource providing support to those affected by someone else’s drinking. Today, there are over 24,500 Al-Anon and Alateen groups meeting in 131 countries. Our meetings are anonymous and confidential. There are no dues or fees for membership.
Defining Al-Anon/Alateen
Al-Anon
- Is for families and friends of alcoholics
- Is a separate fellowship from Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
- Al-Anon is based on the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions adapted from AA
- Is compatible with professional treatment
Alateen
- Is part of the Al-Anon fellowship designed for the younger relatives and friends of alcoholics through age 19
- Members conduct their own meetings with the guidance of an Al-Anon members who are Alateen group sponsors
- Follows the same Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions, and Twelve Concepts as Al-Anon
Al-Anon and Alateen groups and members 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 members are helped when they:
- Attend meetings on a regular basis
- Make telephone contact with other members
- Read Al-Anon/Alateen literature
- Have another Al-Anon/Alateen member as a sponsor
- Apply the Twelve Steps of recovery to their lives
- Become involved in Al-Anon/Alateen service work
Visit a meeting
Professionals may attend “open” Al-Anon meetings. An open Al-Anon meeting welcomes members and prospective members and allows attendance by people who are not families and friends of alcoholics but who are interested in learning about Al-Anon Family Groups.
Generally, Al-Anon group meetings are “closed,” limited to members and prospective members, giving them the freedom to share and listen to the experience, strength, and hope of one another on a confidential and anonymous basis.
The printed meeting book and Web listing of meetings indicates whether meetings are open or closed.
Remember anonymity
Al-Anon is an anonymous fellowship. This means that anyone attending a meeting is asked to keep confidential the identities of individuals seen and everything shared in the meeting.
We always protect our members’ anonymity, but the Al-Anon/Alateen program is not anonymous. We encourage the spreading of information about the availability of Al-Anon/Alateen meetings.