Our History

In 1950 Bill W., co-founder of AA, suggested to his wife Lois that she open a service office in New York to support the 87 groups of families of alcoholics then registered with the AA Alcoholic Foundation. Bill and Lois observed during their travels many groups of families of alcoholics that met regularly and were attempting to live the same spiritual principles used by AA.

In May of 1951, Lois and Anne B. (no relationship to Dr. Bob) sent a letter to these 87 groups expressing the desire to unify these groups under a single organization. The letter asked for their approval to adopt the AA 12 Steps and the suggested name AA Family Groups. From around the country 48 groups responded. By July 145 groups had registered. During this time the organization began using the name Al-Anon, which is a contraction of the title of AA's Big Book titled Alcoholics Anonymous. At the start of 1952 Al-Anon Family Groups opened a Clearing House in an unused upstairs room of the AA 24th Street Clubhouse in New York City with Lois and Anne as the officers and office staff.

Today there are over 26,000 Al-Anon/Alateen groups in 115 countries. Al-Anon/Alateen literature is written by members and translated into 30 languages. Meetings are non-professional, free and confidential.