We come to realize that we can't control or change another person and that our efforts to do this only frustrate us and can even make situations worse. In Al-Anon, we learn to detach by taking the focus off the alcoholic and concentrating on our own healing.

AL-ANON (and ALATEEN for younger members) is a worldwide organization that offers a program of help and mutual support for families and friends of someone with a drinking problem whether or not the person with a drinking problem seeks help or even recognizes the existence of a drinking problem.

The AL-ANON and ALATEEN programs consist primarily of independently operated meetings of people who gather to share their experience, strength and hope with one another, and to learn how to apply the principles of AL-ANON to their own recovery from the effects of someone else's drinking. AL-ANON meetings may cooperate with one another to produce additional events and services for its participants and for the public, including conferences, literature distribution and public awareness campaigns.

AL-ANON is not a religious organization or a counseling agency. It is not a treatment center nor is it allied with any other organization offering such services. AL-ANON Family Groups, which includes ALATEEN for teenage members, neither expresses opinions on outside issues nor endorses outside enterprises. No dues or fees are required. Participation is voluntary, requiring only that one's own life has been adversely affected by someone else's drinking problem.

AL-ANON Family Groups are non-profit entities supported through the voluntary contributions of people who participate in AL-ANON and ALATEEN meetings and events. AL-ANON receives no funds from other organizations and does not fund any organizations or activities outside of AL-ANON and ALATEEN. There are no mandatory membership dues or fees for any meeting participants; however, some special events such as conferences may require registration fees from participants to defray expenses.

Literature for people to learn about our programs and about the effects of drinking on people close to the drinkers. Meetings in many local areas where people can talk to people whose lives have been affected by someone else's drinking. Newsletters published by AL-ANON and ALATEEN participants that provide personal insights and updates on local events. Web sites, such as this one and the AL-ANON and ALATEEN World Service web site, where information may be obtained online.

Al-Anon Family Groups is a fellowship of relatives and friends of alcoholics who share their experience, strength and hope with each other in order to solve their common problems. We believe alcoholism is a family disease and that changed attitudes can aid recovery.

AL-ANON believes that alcoholism is a disease, and that like many other diseases it is not possible to stop someone from having alcoholism. But it is possible for us to change our own attitudes towards a drinker, ourselves and other people in our lives. AL-ANON believes that changing our own attitudes can help to improve our own lives and our family situation, whether someone in our lives is still drinking or not.

Religious belief is not a requirement for AL-ANON or ALATEEN participation or a goal of its programs. AL-ANON neither endorses nor opposes any religion, sect, institution, cause or other program. Though not a religious program, many people experience spiritual growth through participating in AL-ANON and ALATEEN, regardless of their personal beliefs.

Al-Anon has but one purpose: to help families and friends of alcoholics. Al-Anon is non-professional. We do not counsel or advise our members nor do we endorse or affiliate with other agencies or organizations.

Al-Anon has been offering hope and help to the families and friends of alcoholics since 1951. Al-Anon / Alateen has approximately 31,000 groups in 112 countries.

Anyone whose life has been or is being affected by someone else's drinking. This includes immediate family members, relatives, friends, co-workers, employees, etc.

Yes. Even though people's situations differ, fear, anger, resentment and loneliness are some of the common effects from the family disease of alcoholism. Many people in Al-Anon and Alateen have discovered that no situation is really hopeless and that it is possible to find contentment and even happiness, whether the alcoholic is drinking or not.

Answer: Anonymity is an important principle of the Al-Anon / Alateen program. It is vital that we provide a safe environment for members to share. Everything that is said in the group meeting and member to member must be held in confidence. Traditions 11 and 12 of our program speak to the necessity of safeguarding the anonymity of all Al-Anon, Alateen and AA members at the public relations level. This means, at the level of press, radio and TV, that all Al-Anon and Alateen members are anonymous.

Answer: Yes. No matter what your relationship has been with the problem drinker, we in Al-Anon understand as few others can. We share a common bond: we feel our lives have been deeply affected by another person's drinking. Even though people's situations differ, fear, anger, resentment and loneliness are some of the common effects from the disease. We meet together to share our experience, strength and hope.

Yes, and there can be several reasons. There is still a stigma attached to the disease. For example, people are afraid that someone will find out there is a drinking problem in the home. The family also becomes entrenched in the disease. Denial and isolation can become a way of life and make reaching out for help very difficult.

By sharing with each other and by trying to apply the Al-Anon Twelve Steps to their everyday lives. As we learn healthy ways of dealing with our problems, we find that we live happier and better lives in spite of what's going on around us.