Welcome

We welcome you to the Syracuse Al-Anon Information Service web site. The Al-Anon/Alateen Family Groups are a fellowship of relatives and friends of alcoholics who share their experience, strength and hope, in order to solve their common problems. We believe that alcoholism is a family illness and that changed attitudes can aid recovery. Al-Anon's primary purpose is to help family and friends of alcoholics, whether the alcoholic is still drinking or not.

What is alcoholism?

Alcoholism is widely recognized as a disease of compulsive drinking, which can be arrested, but not cured. It is a progressive illness, which will get only worse as long as the person continues to drink. Total abstinence from drinking is the only way to arrest the disease. Alcoholism affects the entire family; indeed, everyone who has contact with the alcoholic is affected. Unfortunately, the only person who can stop the alcoholic from drinking is the alcoholic himself or herself.

Who are alcoholics?

They could be anyone, from all backgrounds and walks of life. Over 95 percent of alcoholics have families, friends, and jobs. They may function fairly well, but some part of their life is suffering. Their drinking causes a continuing and growing problem in their lives, and the lives they touch.

How do alcoholics affect families and friends?

Alcoholism is a family disease. The disease affects all those who have a relationship with a problem drinker. Those of us closest to the alcoholic suffer the most, and those who care the most can easily get caught up in the behavior of another person. We react to the alcoholic's behavior. We focus on them, what they do, where they are, how much they drink. We try to control their drinking for them. We take on the blame, guilt, and shame that really belong to the drinker. We can become as addicted to the alcoholic, as the alcoholic is to alcohol. We, too, can become ill.

Is Al-Anon For You?

Help is here for the asking. Our 20-question self-quizzes can help you decide if Al-Anon may be of help. Select a quiz, listed below, and ask yourself the questions. If you identify with some of the sentiments, we encourage you to give Al-Anon or Alateen a try!

Meetings are free, anonymous and confidential.

No appointments are necessary. Al-Anon is a worldwide fellowship with millions of members in over 27,000 groups. Alateen, which is part of the Al-Anon fellowship, is for younger members. Al-Anon has offered the miracle of recovery and hope to millions of individuals.