Families Anonymous is a FREE twelve-step program for those adults concerned about drug abuse and related behavioral problems of a relative or friend.

• Completely anonymous
• Non-professional and non-religious
• No dues and no fees
• Not connected with any hospital, agency, or church

There are many 12-Step and other programs such as AA, Al Anon, Ala Teen, NA., Tough Love, etc. Families Anonymous (FA) is based on the 12-step philosophy. While many that attend do so as a result of their child’s use of mind altering drugs or alcohol, FA is for the adult family member concerned about ANY family member with these issues. Clearly, the issues can be very different when the family member we are concerned about is a child, particularly a minor child.

Many of us see the same issues; the same tell tale concerns. We have been there and have learned to live one-day-at-a-time. We have learned that we can get out of the cycle of guilt and fear and begin to live a better life. How about you? Does any of this sound familiar? Is your child:

• Suddenly failing classes
• Not going to school
• Being disrespectful to family and others
• Having legal issues
• Difficult to speak with
• Reclusive
• Moody, irritable
• Up late at night unable to sleep
• Hanging out with a new group of friends that concern you or that you have not met
• Have you caught your child using drugs or alcohol and do you believe it is the first time it has happened – that you caught it early….

Who is Families Anonymous for?

Not everyone who comes into this program is concerned about the use of drugs. However, in today’s world, all of us need to confront this issue. Also, those with an emotional problem often turn to drugs in search of a solution to their problems.

Anyone concerned about a loved one’s use of mind-altering substances or related behavioral problems are encouraged to attend. You will feel welcome at your very first meeting. FA is best suited for adult family members as opposed to teens or ‘tweens. FA Teens is an appropriate option for that age group. FA is also not for the person with the addiction issue. There are numerous other 12-step meetings that are better suited to assist those with addition issues.

The group’s purpose is to provide mutual support, and to offer a safe place to share experiences and concerns. Attending meetings helps members adopt an honest and consistent approach towards the addict. With group support, members are able to come to terms with the problems in their lives. Experience has shown that help for the family and friends means help for the addict.

We have learned that drug abuse, drug dependence, or addiction is a matter of illness, not a moral issue. For the purpose of this program, the label is not important. Dependence on drugs can be psychological or physical or both. The compulsive use of drugs or alcohol does not indicate a lack of affection for the family. Even when he knows what will happen when he takes the first pill, drink, or fix, the drug dependent person may do so. This is the “insanity” we speak of in regard to this illness.

There is nothing that we as individuals can do to prevent another person’s abuse of drugs, but we have learned there is much we can do to avoid standing in the way of his recovery. We have found that the most constructive approach is to deal with our own reactions and to learn new ways of coping with our problems. When we accept drug dependence as an illness and understand there is something we can do to help both the situation, and ourselves, we become ready to learn a better way to live.

At our FA meetings we share our experience, strength, and hope with each other and with new members. Many members have found peace and serenity, despite unsolved problems, by working the Twelve Steps. The change in us often helps our loved ones find recovery.

Why FA? – Testimonials

Slogans

Slogans such as those that are listed below can become the single simple statement that gets you through a difficult time. These and the Serenity Prayer are frequently cited as lifelines to many in our groups.

• One Day At A Time
• Let Go and Let God
• How Important Is It
• Keep It Simple
• Just For Today
• Live And Let Live
• The three C’s – I did not Cause it, I cannot Control it, I cannot Cure it.

FAMILIES ANONYMOUS TWELVE STEPS

We have found that our success in this program is determined by how well we accept and apply the following suggested steps:

1. We admitted we were powerless over drugs and other people’s lives – that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God, as we understood Him.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends to such people whenever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

Serenity Prayer God, grant me the serenity to Accept the things I cannot change, The courage to change the things I can, And the wisdom to know the difference.

Families Anonymous is a non-profit fellowship requiring no dues or fees. FA is self-supporting through voluntary contributions and the sale of FA’s published literature. Families Anonymous is not affiliated with any religion or institution.