The literature table at my first Al‑Anon meeting immediately caught my attention. Suddenly, I had access to information about alcoholism and its effects on the families of alcoholics. At the time, I felt incredibly isolated because I had never seen, heard, or read anything about alcoholism or Al‑Anon. Having access to that literature gave me comfort as I left the meeting. I now had Al‑Anon literature to read in my hours of desperation between meetings.
Until that time, the possibility that I could recover from the effects of my husband’s drinking, let alone the availability of Al‑Anon, was unknown to me. This lack of information in my early program days continues to make me determined to “change the things I can” for other families of alcoholics who are in despair. One important way I can do that is to reach out to them by providing copies of the Al‑Anon Faces Alcoholism (AFA) magazine to urgent care facilities, employee assistance professional offices, and hospital emergency rooms. I drive by these locations daily on my way to and from work. It only takes an additional ten minutes for me to stop and speak with the office managers to ask if I can leave copies of AFA for their patients and clients. My neighborhood police station is always staffed, and the branch of my public library is open until 7 pm during the week. So, I can add them to my list of places to take AFA magazines.
I am only one Al‑Anon member, but I can draw attention to the fact that alcoholism is a family disease and to the availability of local or electronic Al‑Anon meetings. The information and encouragement in AFA magazines can attract newcomers to our program.
The World Service Office is now shipping AFA 2019 magazines to members, groups, and Al‑Anon service arms who ordered them. It is a good feeling to be one among the Al‑Anon members taking action to help more families of alcoholics receive information about Al‑Anon and referrals to our program from professionals.
By Claire R., Associate Director—Professionals
The Forum, March 2019
Freedom From Despair has been one of my many favorite pamphlets published by Al-anon. As I progressed in recovery, I would periodically reread it to determine my progress. Heavens knows how difficult the first 6 months to a year is for a newcomer. The broken heart, the broken dreams, nervous unhappy children, the confusions, the push and pull towards and against the alcoholics in our lives restlessness while struggling to absorb the program. Two tools got me through during the day until the next meeting; the slogans ane The Serenity Prayer. The slogan often referred to as our tension relievers… Read more »
I enjoy our Al-Anon Faces Alcoholism and how vital and effective it is as a Public Outreach tool. I have used it a lot and look forward to our new issues each year. I wish that we had that magazine in my early days. I almost gave up on Al-Anon, thinking its philosophy and executing the principles were too difficult to achieve. That’s why I know and fully understand why homegroups are important. I shared in my group that was giving up on the program because I still had bad feelings towards the alcoholics in my life and I felt… Read more »
Very good suggestions.It only takes a few minutes to bring information with you and drop them off at your own clinic or medical office. I’m still reminding them re: Al-Anon family group. They are all confused to what we stand for and how we do help family and friends of Alcoholics.