When you’re in the midst of dealing with someone who abuses alcohol on a regular basis, you may feel like you’re the only person trying to carry on despite your loved one’s problem drinking. According to Gallup, close to half of U.S. adults, 46%, have dealt with substance abuse problems in their family and 36% of those surveyed reported that drinking has been a cause of trouble in their family. (“Substance Abuse Hits Home for Close to Half of Americans,” 10/2019)

In Al‑Anon meetings, people from all walks of life come together to:

• Understand how the family disease of alcoholism may have affected them,
• Find out what they can do to improve their lives regardless of whether their loved one continues to drink, and
• Support others going through similar situations.

In an on‑camera interview, Craig, an anonymous Al‑Anon member, shares about what happened at his first Al‑Anon meeting. Watch his interview to find out more.

If your family has been affected by someone’s alcoholism, consider visiting a few Al-Anon meetings. It could be the first step in a new way of life for you and your loved ones.

Disclaimer:

This interview was recorded at the 2018 Al‑Anon International Convention in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Members were asked to share about various aspects of the Al‑Anon program and their personal experience.

Members’ anonymity is protected so that they can share openly and honestly about their experience with a loved one’s drinking and with the Al‑Anon program.

The opinions expressed in this video were strictly those of the person who gave them.

INTERVIEWER: Craig, could you share with us what kept you coming back to Al‑Anon after that very first meeting?

CRAIG: There was a woman at the very first meeting who came up to me after the meeting, and she put her arms around me. She whispered in my ear so that only I could hear. She said, “Craig, if you come to these meetings and you do with these good people ask you to do, you’ll never be alone again.” It would be a long time before I fully came to appreciate what those words meant. I thought that maybe she meant just that. Of course, every Tuesday night, this group of ladies would be there and I wouldn’t be alone. But what I came to realize is that what she was really referring to is that the relationship that I would soon develop with a higher power was going to be why I was never going to be alone again. I also learned that if I wanted to keep that gift of serenity and recovery, I also had to be willing to give it away. There were people at that meeting. I couldn’t understand why they were still coming. I know today why. They knew that they needed to be there to put their arms around me.

INTERVIEWER: Thank you.