Fact Sheet For Professionals

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 2,300 Alateen groups meeting in 115 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 Sponsor.
• 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.

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 Al-Anon’s Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.

A Formal Referral Is Not Necessary

You or your client can contact us as outline in the Contact section of this website.

The 2003 Al-Anon/Alateen Membership Survey revealed that 40% of our members were referred to Al-Anon by professionals. Many Al-Anon members continue to seek professional assistance in addition to regular attendance at meetings. The role between Al-Anon and the professional community has always been one of interchange, cooperation, and support.

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.
• Provide support for problems other than the impact of alcoholism upon the family members.

Al-Anon/Alateen Is Self-Supporting:

• Through the voluntary contributions of members; there are no dues or fees for membership. Al-Anon does not accept any outside funds, grants, or donations.

Al-Anon/Alateen Is a Program Based upon Anonymity:

• 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.

Al-Anon/Alateen Cooperates with Professionals by Providing:

• Speakers and literature for conferences, workshops, and meetings.
• The newsletter Al-Anon Speaks Out in PDF format on our World Service Office Web site. www.Al-Anon.org
• Open meetings.
• Meetings at schools, institutions, and other facilities.
• Local meeting schedules.
• A variety of literature.
• A FREE packet of literature— Call U.S., 888-4AL-ANON (888-425-2666) or e-mail wso@al-anon.org
• Visit www.Al-AnonLiterature.ab.ca to order literature. Check out the literature section of this website for complete details.

Are Started by:

• Al-Anon and Alateen members.*

A minister, doctor, social worker, or AA member initiates the formation of an Al-Anon/Alateen group. However, after the group has started members operate the group. Professional or AA participation should be limited to open meetings.

You can download a PDF version of the pamphlet where this information was taken from by clicking here.