Fellowships such as Al-Anon and Families Anonymous exist to support family members who have a relative addicted to alcohol or drugs respectively.
There's only one requirement for membership of fellowships such as AA or NA. The desire to stop drinking or using drugs. Membership is ANONYMOUS - people are known by their first name only. This also applies to Al-Anon and Families Anonymous.
Self-help fellowships have found that complete abstinence from alcohol and/or drugs is the best recipe for success in staying clean and sober. It's suggested that members follow a practical programme of recovery (the 12 Steps) - with the support of an experienced member (a sponsor). Members are encouraged to attend meetings, where individuals share their experience. There should be a meeting near you.
Self-Help Fellowships are not religious organizations and don't follow any particular belief system. Their programmes do emphasise the value of basic spiritual principles such as honesty, open-mindedness, willingness and humility, that may be applied in everyday life, but the practical application of these principles is determined by each individual.
These fellowships WORK! Many hundreds of thousands of men and women world-wide have found a new life - without the use of alcohol or drugs - through the meeting rooms of self-help fellowships.
If you'd like to make contact with any of the fellowships mentioned here, then look in the telephone book for their number. If you can't find anything there, ask in your Local Advice Centre, or Health Clinic, or Doctors' surgery.
Links to the web pages of these fellowships can be found in our Web Links section - under 'Help and Support'.