Information for Professionals

Al-Anon Family Groups, which include Alateen, has been in existence for over 60 years as a community resource providing support to those affected by someone else’s drinking. Today, there are over 24,500 Al-Anon and Alateen groups meeting in 131 countries. Our meetings are anonymous and confidential. There are no dues or fees for membership.

Defining Al-Anon/Alateen

Al-Anon:

▪ Is for families and friends of alcoholics

▪ Is a separate fellowship from Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)

▪ Is based on the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions adapted from Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)

▪ Is compatible with professional treatment

Alateen:

▪ Is part of the Al-Anon fellowship designed for the younger relatives and friends of alcoholics through age 19

▪ Members conduct their own meetings with the guidance of an Al-Anon members who are Alateen group sponsors

▪ Follows the same Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions, and Twelve Concepts as Al-Anon

Anon/Alateen members are helped when they:

▪ Attend meetings on a regular basis

▪ Make telephone contact with other members

▪ Read Al-Anon/Alateen literature

▪ Have another Al-Anon/Alateen member as a sponsor

▪ Apply the Twelve Steps of recovery to their lives

▪ Become involved in Al-Anon/Alateen service work

Visit a meeting

Professionals may attend “open” Al-Anon meetings. An open Al-Anon meeting welcomes members and prospective members and allows attendance by people who are not families and friends of alcoholics but who are interested in learning about Al-Anon Family Groups.

Generally, Al-Anon group meetings are “closed,” limited to members and prospective members, giving them the freedom to share and listen to the experience, strength, and hope of one another on a confidential and anonymous basis.

The printed meeting schedule and Web listing of meetings indicates whether meetings are open or closed.

Remember anonymity

Al-Anon is an anonymous fellowship. This means that anyone attending a meeting is asked to keep confidential the identities of individuals seen and everything shared in the meeting.

We always protect our members’ anonymity, but the Al-Anon/Alateen program is not anonymous. We encourage the spreading of information about the availability of Al-Anon/Alateen meetings.

Cooperation with Professionals

Memphis Area Al-Anon Information Service, Inc. cooperates with professionals by providing:

▪ Speakers and selected literature for conferences, workshops, and meetings

▪ Open meetings

▪ Bringing a meeting to schools, institutions, and other facilities

▪ Local meeting schedules ( access to online schedule)

▪ Access to all Al-Anon/Alateen Conference Approved Literature

▪ An introductory packet of free literature

Contact us to find out more.