Al‑Anon Family Groups is a mutual‑support program for people who are affected by another person’s alcohol use, including spouses, partners, parents, children, siblings, friends, and coworkers.(Source) It is not a treatment program for the person with alcohol use disorder; instead, it focuses on the emotional, mental, and spiritual well‑being of those around them.

Al‑Anon was founded in 1951 by Lois Wilson, the wife of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) co‑founder Bill Wilson.(Source) After years of attending AA meetings with her husband, Lois realized that families and friends of people with alcoholism also needed a place to share their experiences and receive support. She and a small group of other spouses began meeting together, which grew into the Al‑Anon Family Groups that exist today.

Alcohol use disorder is now recognized as a chronic medical condition that affects the brain and behavior, often leading to serious health, relationship, and financial consequences.(Source) Loved ones frequently experience anxiety, depression, stress‑related health issues, and trauma symptoms as they try to cope with the unpredictable effects of someone else’s drinking.(Source) Al‑Anon helps people understand that they did not cause the drinking, they cannot control it, and they cannot cure it—and that they still deserve support, safety, and peace of mind.(Source)

Al‑Anon is not allied with any sect, denomination, political group, organization, or institution. It does not offer professional counseling, endorse specific treatment centers, or require any particular belief system.(Source) The only requirement for membership is that your life has been affected by someone else’s drinking.(Source)