Who Are the Members of Al-Anon and Alateen?

For 55 years, family members and friends of alcoholics have found help in Al-Anon meetings around the world. Al-Anon (which includes Alateen for younger members) was founded in 1951 by the wives of two early AA members, and has evolved from 87 scattered groups to the over 26,000 Al-Anon Family Groups in 131 countries today.

The only requirement for membership in Al-Anon and Alateen is that a person be affected by someone else’ alcoholism or problem drinking. Some members have a relationship with a drinker who is still actively drinking, while other drinkers have already achieved sobriety. Some members have chosen to maintain their relationship with the drinker or past drinker while others have cut ties or moved on. Regardless of their current circumstances, members’ experiences have resulted in hurt and loss. Their common experiences allow people to come together for mutual aid and support. There are no professional counselors; rather members take turns facilitating the meetings. In an Al-Anon meeting, members share their own experiences, strength, and hope with each other, which helps each of them on their individual paths to recovery.

Every three to four years, the Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc. conducts a survey of its members. The most recent survey, completed in September 2006, shows a composite of today’s Al-Anon/Alateen members.

Al-Anon members have attended meetings for an average of 11.3 years. They have had close personal contact with an average of three alcoholics. On average, Alateens have been members for 2.4 years, and have two alcoholics in their lives. Almost half of Al-Anon members report having an alcoholic parent; about half report having a current spouse who is alcoholic, (whether sober or not). Over 90 percent of Alateen members report having an alcoholic parent or stepparent, 59 percent reports another relative as an alcoholic, and 44 percent reports having a friend with a drinking problem. Since 1999, there has been a continual increase in Alateen members who report family members as members of Al-Anon and Alcoholics Anonymous.

Al-Anon members report that their overall health, daily functioning and mental heath and well-being are improved due to Al-Anon. Mental health and well-being was reported as the most improved, by 82 percent of the members. Sixty-four percent of Al-Anon members and 88 percent of Alateen members report that a personal recommendation was the most important factor in influencing them to attend their first meeting. A referral from a professional (therapist/counselor, doctor, clergy, etc.) was the most important factor for 36 percent of Al-Anon members. Eleven percent of Alateens reported a therapist or counselor as the second most important influence in coming to a first meeting.

Additional Survey results are published in PowerPoint format and posted on the Al-Anon/Alateen Headquarters Web site, www.al-anon.alateen.org. For local meeting information, please call your local Al-Anon information service (listed in telephone directories and on the Web site). A toll-free meeting line is available for the US and Canada Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time, 1-888-4AL-ANON (1-888-425-2666). 

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