Use the drop down menu on the meetings tab to locate an in-state meeting. To locate a meeting out of state click here. For a list of online meetings available via the WSO website click here.

WHO MAY ATTEND AL-ANON MEETINGS?

Anyone who has been affected by someone else's drinking in the past or present is welcome at any AL-ANON meeting.

WHAT ARE AL-ANON MEETINGS LIKE?

In a typical AL-ANON meeting, participants share and listen to the experiences, strengths and hopes of one another on a confidential and anonymous basis.  Most AL-ANON meetings focus at first on a topic delivered by a lead-off speaker, followed by participants speaking about how that topic relates to their own lives or about other experiences in their lives. Participants are not required to speak, but when they do, they are encouraged to share their own experience, strength and hope, focusing on their own life without gossip or criticism of one another.

ARE ALL AL-ANON MEETINGS THE SAME?

Each AL-ANON meeting is operated independently, and each has its own character and focus.  Some meetings focus on special topics or needs (see below). Some of these meetings, called Families, Friends, & Observers meetings(FFO), allow members of the public seeking information. 

AL-ANON Family Group meetings welcome anyone who believes that their life has been affected by the drinking habits of someone in either the past or the present.  In a typical AL-ANON meeting, participants share and listen to the experiences, strengths and hopes of one another on a confidential and anonymous basis.  By default, AL-ANON meetings are for "families and friends only" in the sense that only people who believe that their life has been affected by the drinking habits of someone in either the past or the present and who are willing to participate confidentially and anonymously are invited. 

However, an AL-ANON meeting may choose to be a "families, friends & observers" meeting by the consent of its participants. This means that an AL-ANON meeting is one that allows public attendance by people who do not believe that their life has been affected by the drinking habits of someone else, but who are interested in learning about AL-ANON Family Groups and about living with people who have drinking problems.  People who typically come to this type of AL-ANON meeting may include doctors, mental health professionals, students, librarians, human resource administrators and civil servants, as well as people from all walks of life who want information and people who do believe that their life has been affected by the drinking habits of someone else.

People who would like to attend a families, friends, & observers AL-ANON meeting are encouraged to seek out meetings that are designated with "FFO" and thus, open to the public. The meeting schedule on this web site lists several in the State of Connecticut that have chosen to operate as "FFO" AL-ANON meetings. "Families & Friends"(FF) meetings may choose to make one or more of their meetings open to the public, but this should be arranged carefully in advance so that the people participating in that meeting can discuss privately whether to do so.

Members of the public attending "FFO" AL-ANON meetings are requested to abide by the principles that guide participation in all AL-ANON Family Group meetings, most especially the principles of confidentiality and anonymity that protect its active participants. Maintaining these fundamental principles  is essential to the success of AL-ANON Family Groups.

Alateen Meetings