Al-Anon (which includes Alateen for younger members) has been offering hope and help to families and friends of alcoholics since 1951. It is estimated that each alcoholic affects the lives of at least four other people. Alcoholism is truly a family disease. No matter what relationship you have with an alcoholic, whether they are still drinking or not, all who have been affected by someone else’s drinking can find solutions that lead to serenity in the Al-Anon/Alateen fellowship.

In Al-Anon, members do not give direction or advice to other members. Instead, they share their personal experiences and stories, and invite other members to “take what they like and leave the rest”—that is, to determine for themselves what lesson they could apply to their own lives. We learn that alcoholism is a disease and that we are not alone. We help one another reclaim our lives.

We don’t have to act on our feelings, we can look at them and let them pass.