North Florida Al Anon Family Groups - Public Outreach

Public Information:

Al-Anon Family Groups celebrates 55 years


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 27,000 Al-Anon Family Groups in 115 countries
that can be found today.

The common bond among Al-Anon/Alateen members (and indeed the only requirement
for membership) is that there is a problem with alcohol in a relative or
friend. The relationship with an alcoholic may be current or past, and members
come together for mutual aid. There are no professional counselors; members
take turns facilitating the meetings where they share their own experience,
strength, and hope with each other, to learn how to better cope with the
effects of alcoholism on their lives.

Every three to four years, the Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc. conducts
a survey of its members. The most recent survey, completed in November 2003,
shows a composite picture of today’s Al-Anon/Alateen members. Al-Anon members
have attended meetings for an average of 10.6 years. They have had close
personal contact with an average of three alcoholics. Alateens on average have
been members for 2.5 years, and have four alcoholics in their lives. Almost
half of Al-Anon members have an alcoholic parent; about half have a current
spouse who is alcoholic. Over 90 percent of Alateen members have an alcoholic
parent or stepparent, 59 percent another relative, and 44 percent a friend with
a drinking problem.

The 2003 Survey shows increases in members who have been in over 10 years, who
have an alcoholic parent, who are retired, and have current spouses in
Alcoholics Anonymous. Since 1999, there are increases in Alateen members who
have a friend who is alcoholic and Alateens who report family members attending
Al-Anon and Alcoholics Anonymous.Seventy-eight percent of Al-Anon members and
94 percent of Alateen members report that a personal recommendation was an
important factor in influencing them to attend their first meeting. A referral
from a professional (therapist/counselor, doctor, clergy, etc.) was a key
factor for 40 percent of Al-Anons and 25 percent of Alateens.

Additional Survey results will be published in pamphlet 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).

 

 

" Reprinted with permission of Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.,
Virginia Beach, VA." Compliance with Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.'s
copyrights and trademarks is required.

 

 

 

This page last updated on: April 22, 2006