Al-Anon gives support to alcoholics and their families

Benoni families battling the often devastating effects of having an alcoholic in the home are invited to seek advice and support at a weekly Al-Anon meeting, which takes place at the Northfield Methodist Church, in Aerodrome Drive, Airfield, every Tuesday at 7.30pm.

According to Al-Anon, alcoholism is a disease, not a choice, and it is fully accepted across the medical and social services that alcoholism is a disease that can be passed from generation to generation.

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Active in South Africa for nearly 70 years, this global support group allows those families living with problem drinkers to find help and support by attending regular weekly meetings in their areas.

A spokesperson for Al-Anon said not everyone who has a drink is an alcoholic.

“In South African society, alcohol is socially acceptable and readily available,” said the spokesperson.

“Those problem drinkers who realise that their excessive drinking is affecting their jobs, financial state, family lives and personal relationships, will hopefully find their way to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).

“Al-Anon is not part of AA, but a group that supports the family at all ages – from children living in alcoholic homes and adults who were brought up in homes where drinking was a serious problem, to spouses, partners and other family members who feel their lives are in chaos because of a family member’s drinking.”

Alateen helps children between the ages of 10 and 17 living in alcoholic homes or environments learn that the drinking has not been caused by them and cannot be controlled or cured by them. Why? Because it is a disease.

Joining Alateen (which is free to attend) also often prevents the alcoholic gene from being triggered in themselves, the Al-Anon spokesperson explained.

“Peer pressure is often so strong that if these children carry the gene, they are in danger of becoming alcoholics.

“Al-Anon Adult Children (AAC) is for those 18 and over who were brought up in alcoholic homes.

“The effects can last a lifetime and result in broken relationships, lost jobs and the loss of their own children in divorce cases.

“As one AAC member said: ‘I wish I had known about Alateen when I was 12; maybe my life would have been a lot more serene’.”

Recovery is a gentle journey of learning how they can take the focus off the alcoholic and put it on themselves and their own recovery from the damage of often abusive relationships.

Take the Al-Anon quiz – https://www.alanon.org.za/take-a-quiz/

Al-Anon could be for you if you can identify with any of the below:

• Do you search for hidden alcohol?

• Do you pour alcohol down the sink?

• Do you cancel plans because the drinker is unable to participate?

• Do you worry about how much someone drinks?

• Do you tell lies to cover up for someone else’s drinking?

• Do you blame the drinker’s behaviour on his or her companions?

• Do you secretly try to smell the drinker’s breath?

• Are holidays and gatherings spoiled because of drinking?

• Have you been hurt or embarrassed by a drinker’s behaviour?

• Do you isolate yourself from other people?

Go to www.alanon.org.za to find a meeting near you or call the 24-hour helpline on 0861 252 666.

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