Al-Anon's
Third Tradition states:
The relatives of alcoholics, when gathered together for mutual aid, may call themselves an Al-Anon Family Group, provided that, as a group, they have no other affiliation.
The only requirement for membership is that there be a problem of alcoholism in a relative or friend.
The 1st thousand times I heard and read this I understood it to mean that someone else had a problem. One day it occurred to me that I am largely incapable of truly assessing whether or not anyone else has a problem. I came to see that I can determine whether or not
I have a problem with another person's drinking. It is because of
my problem that I attend Al-Anon meetings wherein I learn how to take care of myself and
my problems.