Al-Anon

This year has seen the 50th Anniversary of Al-Anon Family Groups.

Al-Anon is the organisation which in many ways complements Alcoholics Anonymous. It is there to offer support to those close to problem drinkers. Parents, children, wives, husbands, friends, and colleagues of alcoholics have all been helped by Al-Anon whether or not the drinker in their lives is still using alcohol or, indeed, recognises that a problem exists.

At Al-Anon group meetings members "receive comfort and understanding and learn to cope with their problems through the exchange of experience, strength and hope". The sharing of problems binds individuals and groups together in a bond that is protected by a policy of anonymity; everything is confidential. Members learn that there are things they can do to help themselves and indirectly to help the problem drinker. Greater understanding and changed attitudes on the part of the people affected on many occasions have resulted in the drinker seeking help.

Al-Anon's origins lie in the late 1930s in the United States, not long after AA first appeared. Close relatives of problem drinkers realised that they too needed help.
Many of them found it useful to follow the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous and formed themselves into family groups.

Fifty years ago, in 1951, these groups were drawn together and became Al-Anon Family Groups.

The first Al-Anon group in the United Kingdom was started in Belfast in 1952. By 1960 there were eleven groups registered and in 1964 the first Alateen group, part of Al-Anon specifically for young people aged 12-20 was established. By 1970 the number of groups had grown to 100. Since then there has been rapid expansion and there are now approximately 1000 groups meeting regularly throughout the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

Worldwide more than 30,000 Al-Anon and Alateen groups meet in over 100 countries.