Is there a difference between AA and Al-Anon? Yes! Despite the similarity of the organizations’ names (and the fact that they share the same acronym), Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon are two distinct groups that offer support for individuals affected by alcoholism.
Key Differences Between Al-Anon and Alcoholics Anonymous
The two organizations are separate but related. Alcoholics Anonymous was founded in 1935 by Bill W; Al-Anon was founded in 1951 by Lois W.–the wife of AA’s founder, who recognized that alcoholism didn’t just affect the drinkers, but their families and loved ones as well.
In addition to their closely intertwined origins, both organizations share the same basic principles, including the 12 Steps, along with meeting and leadership formats, and the same commitment to confidentiality and judgment-free support. Still, there are several key differences between how these groups operate.
Membership
First and foremost, the main difference between Al-Anon and AA is the focus of the support. Alcoholics Anonymous is intended for the person dealing with alcohol addiction. Al-Anon is part of the family groups of AA (which includes Alateen) and is for the people who are affected by the addiction of a loved one.
In short. Alcoholics Anonymous is a support group for people who are recovering from alcohol addiction. Al-Anon is a support group for the friends and family members of people with a drinking problem.
Goals
In AA, individuals recovering from alcohol addiction are encouraged to admit their powerlessness over alcohol, turn their lives over to a higher power, and make amends to those they have harmed. The focus is on helping the individual achieve and maintain sobriety. One of the key differences between AA and Al-Anon is their focus.
Al-Anon, on the other hand, is a support group for friends and family members of alcoholics and focuses on helping loved ones cope with the impact of someone else’s addiction on their lives. This includes learning healthy ways to manage their emotions, emotions towards the person with alcoholism, and how to better support their loved ones.
Addressing Addiction
Another key difference between the two organizations is their approach to addressing addiction. AA encourages individuals to take responsibility for their actions and make amends to those they have harmed, while Al-Anon focuses on helping individuals understand that they are not responsible for the addiction of their loved one and that they cannot control the actions of the alcoholic.
AA also encourages individuals to find a higher power, a spiritual force that can help them overcome their addiction. Al-Anon encourages individuals to find a higher power too, but the organization does not promote any specific religion or spiritual belief.
Structure
In terms of structure, both AA and Al-Anon are self-supporting groups and do not charge for their services. Further, both organizations are autonomous without a central governing body that oversees their operations. Meetings are typically 45 minutes long and follow a similar format.
The one difference lies in AA and Al-Anon anonymity policies. AA encourages members to keep their involvement in the organization confidential, while Al-Anon allows members to share their involvement with others.
Chips & Tokens
AA chips are a well-known aspect of the organization as a way to celebrate members’ sobriety milestones. These tokens are not limited to AA and are used by both Al-Anon and Alateen, but celebrate different types of accomplishments.
Alcoholics Anonymous tokens are color-based, signifying a certain sobriety timeframe, ranging from 30 days, 90 days, 6 months, and over a year. Al-Anon and Alateen chips feature popular slogans and prayers from the organization (like the 3rd Step Prayer or the Serenity Prayer) and are given to celebrate member anniversaries. However, these traditions vary from region to region and not all groups use these physical tokens.
Find Alcoholism Recovery Resources
Whether you struggle with alcoholism or are a bystander who’s impacted by a loved one’s drinking addiction, there’s a support group for you.
Learn more about these 12-step-based support groups, how they work, and what to expect, by exploring our other articles. You’ll find guides for working each of the twelve steps and how to apply them to your own recovery journey.
Or, check out our directory to find an AA group or Al-Anon group near you. Search by city to find local group meetings and connect with others who have been in your shoes. Before attending a meeting, be sure to contact the group and inquire whether the meeting is open or closed. Closed meetings are restricted to current members, while open meetings welcome any and everyone, including newcomers.
