Al-Anon
FAMILY GROUPS
Area 24
Maryland and the District of Columbia
About Al-Anon
Our Program, since 1951
Al-Anon grew from the bottom up. The earliest AA meetings were in members' homes, and the wives often gathered in the kitchen to discuss their own issues. Amazingly, AA's Twelve Steps seemed equally helpful for them!
They soon realized the need for a central clearinghouse to support them, much like AA's central office. This eventually developed into today's Al-Anon World Service Office, where the delegates from each Area, chosen by Group Reps, meet each year.
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Meanwhile, as understanding of the family disease progressed, Al-Anon has expanded to include not only spouses, but children -- Alateen and adult children -- as well as parents, grandparents, and others. Everyone affected by someone else's drinking is welcome.
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Click on the History button to read more, and come to some meetings to experience the fellowship for yourself!
Membership
The only requirement for membership is that there be a problem of alcoholism in a relative or friend.
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There are no dues or fees for membership. We are fully self supporting through our own voluntary contributions.
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All meetings marked "FFO" are open to anyone interested in learning more about Al-Anon.
Our Purpose
The sole purpose of Al-Anon is to help the family and friends of the problem drinker.
We believe that alcoholism is a family illness.
We understand that we did not cause the disease, we cannot control it, and we cannot cure it. By changing our own attitudes, wecan choose recovery and a better life for ourselves. We benefit from learning more about the disease, and our progress can encourage the alcoholic to work their own program.
We come together with the firm belief that by sharing our experience, strength and hope, we will all be better prepared to handle the present and move forward into a brighter, more serene future.
