Why Families Need Al-Anon

Everyone stresses the importance of 12 step meetings to those in recovery, but few people stress Al-Anon for the addict or alcoholic’s family. But they should. Just as the user needs the support and accountability of the Fellowship, so does his or her family. They, too, are impacted by addiction, need to learn how to live without being in its grasp, and gain the support of others who understand what they’re going through.

What Is Al-Anon?

Al-Anon is a part of the 12 step meetings and groups and specifically focuses on family and friends of addicts and alcoholics. The organization states it is a “worldwide fellowship that offers a program of recovery for the families and friends of alcoholics, whether or not the alcoholic recognizes the existence of a drinking problem or seeks help.”

The philosophy is that because addiction impacts more than just the addict, family and friends need support and advice to overcome their role in the addiction process, regardless of what the addict or alcoholic does.

Are you or someone you love addicted to drugs or alcohol? If so, get immediate help by calling 800-481-6965 (Who Answers?) today and talk to someone who understands addiction and recovery and can get you started in addiction treatment.

What Does Al-Anon Do for Families?

If you’ve never really dealt with someone you love becoming addicted to drugs or alcohol, you can’t grasp what it’s like. There’s lies, mistrust, deceit. And when it comes to families, although they try, they don’t always do the right things. They may scream and yell, belittle or shame. They may sneak around and give money or drugs to the person to prevent withdrawal.

Al-Anon can help restore familial relationships.

Sometimes people enable because they think it’s helping, when really it’s hurting. That’s where Al-Anon comes in.

These are other people who’ve been where you’re at. They’ve gone through what you’ve gone through. They’ve made mistakes and had successes. Any while they may not always have the answers, they at least understand and can offer you words of advice and a hand to pull you back up when you’re down.

Support

Learning how to support your addicted loved one without enabling him or her is one of the hardest things for family and friends of addicts to learn. It’s a fine line between the two, and old habits die hard. Al-Anon gives family and friends of addicts and alcoholics the support they need to follow through with ending enabling, especially when it comes to the hard decisions.

Education

Not everyone knows about addiction, drug abuse, and recovery. And those family and friends that make the biggest mistakes are the ones without a true understanding of the disease. Al-Anon helps people educate themselves about drug and alcohol addiction, treatment options, and recovery, allowing them to make educated decisions and choices.

Is There an Addict in Your Life?

If you or someone you love is addicted to drugs or alcohol, there’s not better time than now to get sober. Call 800-481-6965 (Who Answers?) today to talk to someone who understands addiction and can help you get the treatment you need.

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