What Is Al-Anon and Alateen?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAl-Anon BasicsHistory of Al-Anon and AlateenHow Al-Anon and Alateen WorkThe 12 Steps in Al-Anon

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Al-Anon Basics

History of Al-Anon and Alateen

How Al-Anon and Alateen Work

The 12 Steps in Al-Anon

Al-Anon and Alateen are two programs that are part of a worldwide fellowship that offers support to families of alcoholics. Al-Anon is designed to help spouses, parents, siblings, and other family members, while Alateen is specifically geared toward younger people living with an alcoholic.

At a Glance

Similiar to the AA program for people with alcohol use problems, Al-Anon follows a 12-step model and provides a supportive environment where people can find encouragement and support from people who are going through similar experiences.

An Overview of Al-Anon and Alateen

Both groups are based on a spiritual, non-religious ethos from which members derive insight from being part of a collective (as opposed to engaging in one-on-one support).

While many people turn to Al-Anon and Alateen for help with a loved one’s drinking problems, neither areintervention programs. Instead, they recognize that people living with an alcoholic can be traumatized and focus their efforts on caring for those individuals' needs.

It’s normal for family members towant to help their loved onewho has a drinking problem, but it can take a toll on the well-being of both individuals and families. The effects can include financial problems, defensiveness, legal woes, negative emotions, stress, anxiety, depression, family problems, and violence.

Support groups can help people learn to recognize the differences betweenenablingand helping, learn how to prioritize their own needs, and practicedetachmentto minimize the stress and harm that drinking causes.

As withAlcoholics Anonymous (AA), Al-Anon and Alateen are closely based on a 12-step model (known, aptly, as theTwelve Steps), which is designed as a “tool for spiritual growth.”

As early as 1939, families began to attend AA meetings along with their alcoholic family members. By actively engaging in the Twelve Steps, many of these people began to see the benefits of incorporating the principles into their own lives and family dynamics. Over time, some of these family groups formed their ownindependent meetings.

In 1948, several of these groups applied to the AA General Service Office to be listed in the member directory. After being denied inclusion, Lois W. (wife of AA co-founder Bill W.) and Anne B., a close family friend, decided to create a committee to help coordinate and service these independent groups.

Al-Anon MeaningIn 1951, Al-Anon was officially established with 56 member groups across the continental United States. They chose the name from the first syllables of “AlcoholicsAnonymous” and, in keeping with the founding principles, adopted the Twelve Steps (and later theTwelve Traditions) in a slightly modified form.

Al-Anon Meaning

In 1951, Al-Anon was officially established with 56 member groups across the continental United States. They chose the name from the first syllables of “AlcoholicsAnonymous” and, in keeping with the founding principles, adopted the Twelve Steps (and later theTwelve Traditions) in a slightly modified form.

The Al-Anon and Alateen Twelve Steps are closely aligned to those of AA. The basic principle of the model is that people can help heal each other—but only if they surrender to a higher power.

It is important to remember that Al-Anon and Alateen are not treatment programs. Instead, they are about sharing personal experiences so that other members can find strength and consider how they might apply those lessons to their own lives.

While the Twelve Steps can be a force for good in families who are suffering, there are those who struggle with thespiritual, quasi-religious, male-centric premise of the program.

For individual who don’t feel comfortable with the spiritual elements of the Al-Anon and Alateen Twelve Steps programs, there are alternatives to the 12-step methodology which do not rely on the concept of a “higher power.”

Al-Anon and Alateen AlternativesIf you need support but Al-Anon and Alateen don’t seem right for you, considerSMART Recovery Family & FriendsorNAMI Family Support Group.

Al-Anon and Alateen Alternatives

If you need support but Al-Anon and Alateen don’t seem right for you, considerSMART Recovery Family & FriendsorNAMI Family Support Group.

Al-Anon and Alateen Twelve Steps

For those who embrace the Al-Anon and Alateen approach, the 12 steps are broken down as follows:

How Can I Find Support Groups Near Me?

5 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Al-Anon Family Groups.What is Al-Anon and Alateen?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Alcohol and substance use.Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.The Twelve Steps.Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.Al-Anon Timeline.Kelly JF.Is Alcoholics Anonymous religious, spiritual, neither? Findings from 25 years of mechanisms of behavior change research.Addiction. 2017;112(6):929-936. doi:10.1111/add.13590Additional ReadingTimko C, Cronkite R, Kaskutas LA, Laudet A, Roth J, Moos RH.Al-anon family groups: newcomers and members.J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2013;74(6):965-976. doi:10.15288/jsad.2013.74.965Timko C, Young LB, Moos RH.Al-anon family groups: origins, conceptual basis, outcomes, and research opportunities.Journal of Groups in Addiction & Recovery. 2012;7(2-4):279-296. doi:10.1080/1556035X.2012.705713

5 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Al-Anon Family Groups.What is Al-Anon and Alateen?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Alcohol and substance use.Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.The Twelve Steps.Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.Al-Anon Timeline.Kelly JF.Is Alcoholics Anonymous religious, spiritual, neither? Findings from 25 years of mechanisms of behavior change research.Addiction. 2017;112(6):929-936. doi:10.1111/add.13590Additional ReadingTimko C, Cronkite R, Kaskutas LA, Laudet A, Roth J, Moos RH.Al-anon family groups: newcomers and members.J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2013;74(6):965-976. doi:10.15288/jsad.2013.74.965Timko C, Young LB, Moos RH.Al-anon family groups: origins, conceptual basis, outcomes, and research opportunities.Journal of Groups in Addiction & Recovery. 2012;7(2-4):279-296. doi:10.1080/1556035X.2012.705713

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Al-Anon Family Groups.What is Al-Anon and Alateen?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Alcohol and substance use.Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.The Twelve Steps.Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.Al-Anon Timeline.Kelly JF.Is Alcoholics Anonymous religious, spiritual, neither? Findings from 25 years of mechanisms of behavior change research.Addiction. 2017;112(6):929-936. doi:10.1111/add.13590

Al-Anon Family Groups.What is Al-Anon and Alateen?

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Alcohol and substance use.

Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.The Twelve Steps.

Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.Al-Anon Timeline.

Kelly JF.Is Alcoholics Anonymous religious, spiritual, neither? Findings from 25 years of mechanisms of behavior change research.Addiction. 2017;112(6):929-936. doi:10.1111/add.13590

Timko C, Cronkite R, Kaskutas LA, Laudet A, Roth J, Moos RH.Al-anon family groups: newcomers and members.J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2013;74(6):965-976. doi:10.15288/jsad.2013.74.965Timko C, Young LB, Moos RH.Al-anon family groups: origins, conceptual basis, outcomes, and research opportunities.Journal of Groups in Addiction & Recovery. 2012;7(2-4):279-296. doi:10.1080/1556035X.2012.705713

Timko C, Cronkite R, Kaskutas LA, Laudet A, Roth J, Moos RH.Al-anon family groups: newcomers and members.J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2013;74(6):965-976. doi:10.15288/jsad.2013.74.965

Timko C, Young LB, Moos RH.Al-anon family groups: origins, conceptual basis, outcomes, and research opportunities.Journal of Groups in Addiction & Recovery. 2012;7(2-4):279-296. doi:10.1080/1556035X.2012.705713

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