Al-Anonﾀ is a fellowship for family members and friends of alcoholics. Although separate from Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)ﾀ, Al-Anon uses many of the same strategies, beliefs, and philosophies in its efforts to help families of alcoholics cope with the confusing and disturbing experiences of living with or being close to an active alcoholic. Al-Anon grew out of AA as a way to include families in a separate but similar organization, and thus also teach them about the beliefs and practices of AA. As AA expanded and more alcoholics became recovering ones, many close relatives realized that the lessons AA taught could help them solve some of their own personal problems. The AA strategy known as the Twelve Step program worked for them, even though they themselves were not alcoholics. In 2001 there were 24,389 Al-Anon groups worldwide, as well as 2,350 Alateenﾀ groups of children of alcoholics.

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