Al-Anon is a fellowship very similar to ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS (AA), but it is for family members and friends of alcoholics. Although formally totally separate from the fellowship of AA, it has incorporated into its groups the AA Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions and AA's beliefs and organizational philosophy, but it has directed them towardhelping families of alcoholics cope with the baffling and disturbing experiences of living in close interaction with an active alcoholic. In this sense, it is a satellite organization of AA (Rudy, 1986). Proselytizing organizations, such as AA, of necessity attempt to reduce, even eliminate, the ties of newcomers with other significant persons and groups who are not members. Rather than attempt to sever those bonds for prospective AA members, AA evolved Al-Anon as a way to include families into a parallel organization, and thus also initiate them into the beliefs and practices of AA. In addition...