Al-Anon: What Faith Leaders Need to Know About This Lifesaving Program
How many people do you know who have a problem with drinking alcohol? How many people do you know who are in Alcoholics Anonymous or would benefit from it?
As a member of Savannah’s faith community, it is important to know about these invaluable organizations helping friends and family members who are affected by the negative effects of someone else’s drinking. Similarly, Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is a “sister” 12-step program to AA. For every person participating in AA or NA, there are no less than five other people who are affected by the disease of addiction. These people are parents, spouses, significant others, siblings, children and close friends. Everyone is impacted by what we call “the family disease of addiction.” In this modern age, we know that alcoholism and other forms of addiction are diseases, not moral failings. Al-Anon is a program for the friends and family of someone who has a problem with drinking. Alateen is a program for teens and pre-teens of someone who has a drinking problem. These two programs are both based on the 12-steps of AA and are closely related to Alcoholics Anonymous. The Twelve Steps of Alateen and Al-Anon are a foundation for personal recovery from the negative effects of someone else’s drinking. ACOA, another 12-step recovery group, focuses on adult children of alcoholics and what they can learn about themselves and how the disease has affected them.
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