May 4th, 2008 by jgold454

Al Anon is a program that counsels the family of an alcoholic patient on several issues relating to the person’s alcoholism. Al Anon works in combination with the Alcoholics Anonymous programs.

While the Alcoholics Anonymous program addresses the problems of the patient, the Al Anon addresses the problems of the family of the patient. The main intention of Al Anon is to help the family cope with the problems that the person’s alcohol abuse creates, and to effectively face the treatment program. It has been seen that when families are investing their time and effort in bringing one of their members out of an alcohol addiction, the whole process takes a toll on their own lives too. They have to undergo periods of stress, frustration and depression during various stages of the treatment. Sometimes, these problems can be so severe that they may cause adverse effects of their own in the patient.Another problem that Al Anon tries to redress is the codependency that is seen so prominently in families of alcohol addicts. Codependency refers to particular behavioral patterns in the family that makes it difficult for the person to come out of the alcohol addiction. One such instance is when the family hides certain behaviors of the addict and shields them from the repercussions of their habit. This can keep the person away from realizing the magnitude of the addiction and seeking addiction treatment. This can prolong the state of denial, which can be very disadvantageous to effective treatment.

Al Anon solves such related problems of alcohol addiction that affect the family. Since alcoholism is being considered a social disease today, the efforts of Al Anon in this regard are quite commendable.