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What is Al-Anon and How Can It Help?

Alcohol addiction is one of the most prevalent types of addiction in America, with millions suffering from it every day. One of the main reasons that alcohol addiction is so prevalent is because alcohol is nearly inescapable. It can be bought nearly anywhere, and for a person with alcohol addiction, it is a daily struggle to get sober and stay that way. Even once treatment is complete, it is an ongoing battle to stay sober. At Hillside Mission Recovery, we believe that everyone deserves a chance to get and stay clean. In this post, we will discuss Al-Anon and how it can help people suffering from alcohol addiction. We will provide information about Al-Anon, including what is Al-Anon, how the Al-Anon group was founded, and what exactly it does for people with alcohol addiction. 

What is Al-Anon?  

Al-Anon is a twelve-step program that helps families and friends of alcoholics recover from the effects of living with someone who suffers from alcoholism. Rather than being a support system and treatment for those with alcoholism, Al-Anon focuses on those affected by someone with alcoholism by giving them a place to go to get help and support among people who are facing a similar situation. 

Who Created Al-Anon?  

Al-Anon was created in 1951 by Lois Wilson, the wife of Bill Wilson, who is credited as one of the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous. After watching her husband struggle with alcoholism for years and seeing the toll it took on him and their family, Lois decided to create a program specifically for those affected by someone with alcoholism. The program was inspired by Alcoholics Anonymous and uses many of the same principles. 

Who is Al-Anon Made For?  

Al-Anon is made for anyone who has been affected by someone with alcoholism. This includes friends and family members of alcoholics as well as people who are in relationships with an alcoholic. It is a place for people to come together and share their experiences to better understand how to deal with living with or being close to someone with alcoholism. 

How Can Al-Anon Help People?  

Al-Anon can help people by giving them a place to talk about their experiences, providing support and understanding from others who are facing similar situations, and teaching them how to better deal with the effects of alcoholism. Al-Anon also offers a twelve-step program that can help people recover from the effects of living with someone who suffers from alcoholism. 

The focus of the Al-Anon program is different from alcoholics anonymous in that it is not a treatment program for those with alcoholism, but rather it is a support system for those affected by someone with alcoholism. 

The support is centered around allowing family and friends a place to go and, much like AA, give them a peer support group and place to acknowledge the damage that alcohol addiction has done to their life. 

Many people have benefited from this type of support while their loved one undergoes treatment to get clean and sober. 

How to Find Al-Anon Meetings Near Me  

If you are interested in finding an Al-Anon meeting near you, there are several ways to do so. You can check the Al-Anon website for a list of local meetings or search online for “Al-Anon meetings near me.” You can also call your local Alcoholics Anonymous office and ask for information about nearby Al-Anon meetings. Finally, you can check with your local hospital or treatment center to see if they have any information about Al-Anon meetings in your area. 

Hillside Mission Recovery is focused on providing top-quality inpatient rehab for our clients, but we also offer aftercare services that are centered around giving clients and their families the continued support they need to battle addiction. 

As part of those aftercare services, we offer access to twelve-step programs like AA and Al-Anon to provide an extra layer of support during the transition from treatment back to an everyday life free of alcohol. 
If you have a loved one who is suffering from alcohol addiction, we urge you to call us at Hillside Mission to get them the treatment they need to get the support you need to rebuild your life. Don’t hesitate to contact us today to find alcohol addiction treatment in Mission Viejo, CA!