Fact Sheet for Professionals
Information About Al-Anon & Alateen

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 nearly 1,800 Alateen groups meeting in 131 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
For meeting information you or your client can call :
• The Al-Anon information service listed in your telephone directory, or on our Web site, www.al-anon.alateen.org
• Toll-free for meeting information between
8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, ET.
888-4AL-ANON U.S.A. or Canada
(888-425-2666)

The 2006 Al-Anon/Alateen Membership Survey revealed that 36% 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 link between Al-Anon and the professional community has always been one of interchange, cooperation, and support.

Al-Anon/Alateen Meetings Include:
• Open meetings that may be attended by anyone
interested in learning about the Al-Anon or Alateen program.
• Closed meetings that are for anyone whose life is or has been affected by a problem drinker.
• Limited access groups which meet in locations where the general membership may not be able to attend (i.e. industrial, military, or school settings).
• Introductory meetings at facilities to introduce Al-Anon/Alateen to newcomers.

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.
• 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 the AFG, Inc. World Wide Web site <www.al-anon.alateen.org> or use our fax number to order literature, (757) 563-1655. Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express accepted.

Al-Anon/Alateen Groups Are Started by:
• Al-Anon and Alateen members. A minister, doctor, social worker, or AA member can initiate 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.

©Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.
1600 Corporate Landing Parkway,Virginia Beach, VA 23454-5617
Phone: (757) 563-1600 Fax: (757) 563-1655
E-mail: wso@al-anon.org