What is Al-Anon and who can take part?
Al-Anon is a self-help fellowship for relatives and friends of people with alcohol problems. According to the website, the family groups support everyone whose life is or was burdened by another person's drinking. The focus is on alcohol: Al-Anon is for people who live or have lived with another person's drinking. If you are worried about cannabis, you will not automatically find the right setting there.
What Al-Anon is
Al-Anon is a community in which people talk about their experiences. The family groups are a place where those affected can have their say. The community is open to anyone who feels burdened by another person's drinking.
According to the website, there are about 450 Al-Anon groups in Germany. Members follow the Twelve Step programme and share their experiences. The fellowship was founded more than 70 years ago in America.
For young people there are the Alateen groups. If you have underage children, it is worth checking there what is possible for them.
Who can take part
People whose life is or was burdened by another person's drinking can take part. It does not matter whether the other person is still drinking, lives with you or has died. Anyone who feels burdened by the situation can give it a try.
The website also stresses that Al-Anon is anonymous.
Al-Anon and cannabis
Al-Anon focuses on drinking. If your relative uses cannabis, the offer therefore fits only partly. Whether a local group also welcomes relatives whose concern is cannabis use, you need to ask Al-Anon directly, because the homepage only refers to drinking. Many relatives nevertheless experience similar feelings: fear, shame, helplessness and the worry of doing something wrong.
The DHS, the Deutsche Hauptstelle für Suchtfragen, names addiction counselling centres as the right contact for relatives and those affected. There you can also get advice on cannabis. The DigiSucht addiction counselling service writes that partners, parents and siblings can also be heavily affected. The article Where can relatives get advice on cannabis use? shows the suitable services.
How to find a meeting
The Al-Anon website has a meeting finder. There you search for places and times near you. There are also electronic meetings that you can join online. This helps if attending a meeting in person is difficult for you or none takes place in your area.
Before your first visit, it is worth reading on the website how the meetings run. You decide for yourself how much you share at the first meeting. Take time to look around before you speak.
What else you can do
Self-help does not replace counselling. If you want to know which steps make sense for cannabis, an addiction counselling centre can help. The DHS notes that relatives and those affected can clarify open questions there. The offer carries no obligation.
Anyone who addresses their own strain lays the foundation for being able to help others at all. The DHS also says this: looking after your own wellbeing is the first step.
Prevention and limits
The DigiSucht addiction counselling service says it is important to set limits and look after yourself. You can talk about this with a counsellor or in a self-help group. If you experience violence or no longer feel safe, contact the police or the emergency services immediately. This applies regardless of which substance is involved.
If Al-Anon is not a good fit for you
Not every group suits every person. If the topics do not reach you, try another form. The article Are there self-help groups for relatives of people with addiction? gives an overview.
The DHS lists further self-help associations for relatives, including the Blaues Kreuz, the Guttempler, the Kreuzbund and the Freundeskreise für Suchtkrankenhilfe. The DHS describes personal counselling and self-help groups, on site and online, as free of charge for relatives. An addiction counselling centre can also help you with your search. The DHS names addiction counselling centres as the right contact for relatives. There you can clarify open questions before you decide on a group.
When you prepare for a first meeting, think beforehand about what you want to say and what you would rather only listen to. Both are fine. Whether you come back is for you to decide after the meeting.
Your next steps
- Check the meeting finder for a meeting near you or an electronic meeting.
- Attend a meeting and then decide whether you want to stay.
- Also look for an addiction counselling centre that knows about cannabis.
An overview of all services is on the page Help and counselling. You can read more about self-help groups for relatives in the article Are there self-help groups for relatives of people with addiction?.
Frequently asked questions
What is Al-Anon?
Al-Anon is a self-help fellowship for relatives and friends of people with alcohol problems. The family groups support everyone whose life is or was burdened by another person's drinking. Members share their experiences. Taking part is anonymous.
Can I take part in Al-Anon if my child uses cannabis?
Al-Anon focuses on drinking, so the offer fits cannabis use only partly. You can still try the exchange, but you should also seek advice specifically on cannabis. The DHS names addiction counselling centres as the right contact for relatives.
How do I find an Al-Anon meeting near me?
The Al-Anon website has a meeting finder for meetings in person. It also offers electronic meetings. The website shows places and times, so you can choose a suitable date directly.