If you are a professional in the community such as a minister, lawyer, doctor, or social worker, you can help those affected by someone else's drinking by referring them to Al-Anon. The following letters describe how you can help and are the official view of the Al-Anon/Alateen World Service Office:
| Letter to Doctors | |
| Letter to Human Services Professional | Letter to Teachers |
| Letter to Student Assistant Professional | Letter to Police |
| Letter to Lawyers | |
If you are a professional and you are interested in learning more about Al-Anon in District 6, then call the service office at (919) 787-1653.
| The 1999
Al-Anon/Alateen Membership Survey revealed that 51% of our members were referred to Al-Anon by professionals. Many Al-Anon members continue to seek professional assistance in addition to regular attendance at meetings. The role between Al-Anon and the professional community has always been one of interchange, cooperation and support. |
Al-Anon meetings have the following three general formats:
 | Closed meetings are for any
person whose life is or has been affected by a problem drinker.
Meetings in District 6 are typically closed meetings. |
| Open meetings are for anybody
that is interested in learning about the Al-Anon or the Alateen program. |
| Limited Access meetings are held in locations where general membership may not be able to attend (i.e. industrial, military, school, or institutional settlings) |
The following is a description of Al-Anon and its members:
| The only requirement for membership is that
there be a problem of drinking in a relative or a friend |
| Al-Anon is an anonymous fellowship of
relatives and friends of alcoholics who meet to share their experience,
strength, and hope in order to solve their common problems; adult children
of alcoholics, parents, partners, spouses, co-workers, etc can all find help
in Al-Anon. |
| Al-Anon is a separate fellowship from
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), and the Al-Anon program of recovery is based on
the Twelve Steps and the Twelve Traditions of AA. |
| Al-Anon is non-professional,
self-supporting, nondenominational, multiracial, nonpolitical, and is
available almost anywhere. |
| Al-Anon supports its younger members through Alateen which is for friends and relatives of alcoholics up to 19 years old. An adult 'sponsors' an Alateen group and applies the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions to guide the group. |
The following is a description of what Al-Anon is NOT!
| Al-Anon groups and members (professionals
or otherwise) do not act as professionals giving counseling or advice. |
| Al-Anon groups do not gossip or criticize
other members or the alcoholic. |
| Al-Anon groups do not discuss politics or
religion in meetings. |
| Al-Anon groups do not endorse any other cause. |
Al-Anon and Alateen groups are formed:
| Al-Anon and Alateen groups are formed when
qualified members see a need for a meeting in a new location. |
|
Although the actual founding of a new group is the responsibility of those qualified for membership, occasionally a doctor, social worker, minister, priest, or AA member helps initiate the formation a a new Al-Anon group. However, once the group has been started, professional attendence should be limited to open meetings only. |
Al-Anon and Alateen Cooperates with
professionals by providing:
| speakers and literature for professional
conferences, workshops, and meetings |
|
Al-Anon Speaks Out --
the Al-Anon newsletter |
|
Open meetings |
|
Meetings at schools,
institutions, and other facilities |
|
Local meeting schedules |
|
Information packets. These can be obtained for free by calling (888) 425-2666 |