About Al-Anon/Alateen Family Groups

The primary purpose of Al-Anon/Alateen is to help families and friends of alcoholics.

What is Al-Anon/Alateen?

Al-Anon's program of recovery is based on the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions as adapted from Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Al-Anon/Alateen is not allied with any sect, denomination, political entity, organization, or institution; does not engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any cause.

Al-Anon Meetings are free, anonymous and confidential. There are no dues for membership. Al-Anon/Alateen is self supporting through its own voluntary contributions, and through the sale of Conference-approved Al-Anon/Alateen literature (CAL).

Who are we?

Al-Anon/Alateen unites members of different ages, backgrounds, races, and walks of life in an inspiring endeavor: helping themselves and others to lead purposeful, useful lives by overcoming the frustration and helplessness cause by close association with an alcoholic.

How does it work?

The message of 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. Today these men, women, and children have courage and confidence. They have found understanding friends. They have learned what to do to help themselves - and this can indirectly help their alcoholic relatives, loved ones, and friends, whether sober or not.

Alateen (Al-Anon for younger members) is a vital part of the Al-Anon Family Groups' program. Young people seeking help with problems that arise when alcoholism afflicts a parent, another close relative, or a friend meet to exchange experiences and to gain and understanding of themselves and the alcoholic. This helps their own personal development and can help stabilize troubled thinking resulting from close association with an alcoholic.