Families & Friends Of Addicts Support Group

For over 55 years, Al-Anon (which includes Alateen for younger members) has been offering strength and hope for friends and families of addicts. It is estimated that each addict affects the lives of at least four other people... addiction is truly a family disease. No matter what relationship you have with an addict, whether they are still using or not, all who have been affected by someone else’s using can find solutions that lead to serenity in the Al-Anon/Alateen fellowship.
Many who come to Al-Anon/Alateen are in despair, feeling hopeless, unable to believe that things can ever change. We want our lives to be different, but nothing we have done has brought about change. We all come to Al-Anon because we want and need help.

In Al-Anon and Alateen, members share their own experience, strength, and hope with each other. You will meet others who share your feelings and frustrations, if not your exact situation. We come together to learn a better way of life, to find happiness whether the alcoholic is still using or not.
Al-Anon may be listed in the white pages of your local telephone directory. Many of those listed post meeting information on their Web sites. For meeting information in Canada, the US, and Puerto Rico you can call 1-888-4AL-ANON (1-888-425-2666) Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 6:00pm ET.

I felt the same way when i first went but members welcomed me in and it was nice to know i had others who had or were going through what i did.
Meeting are basically read Alanon steps and traditions, ours has Alanon books we read and share from and then closing in my area they are more religous based so they close with the Lords Prayer. But i'm told other area's aren't so religous.
They will never tell you to leave alcoholic and only offer suggestions on how they handle a situation. Mainly from going i learned to detach and put my feeling first not always worrying about what AH was doing.
Like they say "take what you want and leave the rest".

lyn, i just came from my first naranon meeting and it was fantastic!! i was so nervous before i went, on the way there i had butterflies in my stomach and i walked round the block twice contemplating wether to go in or not! let me just tell you its an enpowering expierence and you feel so serene when you leave. its all ppl wit your same expierences/problems and even by just listening i learnt so much.its of great support knowing i am not alone. i know things wont change overnight but it works if you work it! i encourage you to go and i promise you wont regret it. if u want to chat or ask me anything go ahead i'm here. btw, heres a link to a simple and clear explanation of what goes on in a meeting, i read it before i went and it helped http://substance-abuse-recovery.su... take care xoxo

" lyn, i just came from my first naranon meeting and it was fantastic!! i was so nervous before i went, on the way there i had butterflies in my stomach and i walked round the block twice contemplating wether to go in or not! let me just tell you its an enpowering expierence and you feel so serene when you leave. its all ppl wit your same expierences/problems and even by just listening i learnt so much.its of great support knowing i am not alone. i know things wont change overnight but it works if you work it! i encourage you to go and i promise you wont regret it. if u want to chat or ask me anything go ahead i'm here. btw, heres a link to a simple and clear explanation of what goes on in a meeting, i read it before i went and it helped http://substance-abuse-recovery.su...
... take care xoxo "