All About Al-Anon for educators

1. All About Al-Anon for educators

2. Who we are We’re members of the Al-Anon Family Groups (AFG) ofWisconsin and Upper Peninsula of Michigan

3. Why we’re here To inform you, as Educators, about what Al-Anon/Alateen is, and how it can help YOU help the students and families you serve

4. What we’ll share How Al-Anon is a RESOURCE for you 2. What Al-Anon IS and what it ISNOT 3. The role Al-Anon plays in recovery from the FAMILY DISEASE of alcoholism 4. How you can MAKE REFERRALS to Al-Anon

5. a word about Anonymity

6. Prevalence of Binge Drinking Among Adults in the U.S.

7. Wisconsin has thehighest PREVALENCE OF BINGE DRINKING among all 50 states:10.9% (Utah) to 25.6% (Wisconsin) Wisconsin has the highest INTENSITY OF BINGE DRINKING among all 50 states:6.0 drinks on occasion (DC) to 9.0 drinks on occasion (Wisconsin)

8. In the U.S. there are more than 18 million peoplewith a drinking problem, andonly 10% of themwill ever get help

9. Every individual with a drinking problemdisrupts the lives of at least 4 other people: THE CHILD WHO LOSES A PARENT TO A DRUNKEN DRIVING ACCIDENT CAREERS THAT ARE RUINED MARRIAGES AND FAMILIES THAT ARE DESTROYED BY PROBLEM DRINKING

10. Of the estimated 72 million Americans affected by someone else’s drinking, most will not get help for themselves Many will never realize they could have benefited from insight into problems caused by another person’s drinking

11. SOURCE: 2009 MEMBER SURVEY, AL-ANON FAMILY GROUPS WORLD SERVICE HEADQUARTERS

12. What effect can someone’s excessive drinking have on others?

13. WhatWAS LIFE LIKEBEFORE ATTENDINGAL-ANON?

14. Where EDUCATORS WILL FIND STUDENTS AFFECTED BYSOMEONE ELSE’S DRINKING

15. Where will you find students affected by someone else’s drinking?

16. Where will you find students affected by someone else’s drinking?

17. Where will you find students affected by someone else’s drinking?

18. Where will you find students affected by someone else’s drinking?

19. SOURCE: 2009 MEMBER SURVEY, AL-ANON FAMILY GROUPS WORLD SERVICE HEADQUARTERS

20. Where will you find students affected by someone else’s drinking?

21. Where will you find students affected by someone else’s drinking?

22. Where will you find students affected by someone else’s drinking?

23. Where else EDUCATORS WILL FIND STUDENTS AFFECTED BY SOMEONE ELSE’S DRINKING • Classroom • Nurse’s office • Principal’s office • Absent students • And other community settings

25. SOURCE: 2009 MEMBER SURVEY, AL-ANON FAMILY GROUPS WORLD SERVICE HEADQUARTERS

26. SINGLE PURPOSE: To help families and friends of problem drinkers, whether the problem drinker is still drinking or not.

27. WORLDWIDE FELLOWSHIP NETWORK of people who believe their lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking ... NOT group therapy and NOT led by a counselor or therapist. MUTUAL SUPPORT recovery program where members share their experience, strength and hope to solve common problems BASED ON THE TWELVE STEPS of Alcoholics Anonymous … butNOT affiliated with AA SPIRITUAL PROGRAM that is compatible with all religious beliefs or noneat all … independent and NOT allied with any sect, denomination, political entity, organization or institution

28. Weekly and online meetings No dues or fees AnonymousCompatible with professional treatmentFree of charge Worldwide Spiritual Fellowship of peers Independent No professional referral required Not a treatment center, counseling agency or teaching program

29. HowCAN AL-ANON FAMILY GROUPSHELP?

30. But … does Al-Anon really work?

31. SOURCE: 2009 MEMBER SURVEY, AL-ANON FAMILY GROUPS WORLD SERVICE HEADQUARTERS

32. SOURCE: 2009 MEMBER SURVEY, AL-ANON FAMILY GROUPS WORLD SERVICE HEADQUARTERS

33. SOURCE: 2009 MEMBER SURVEY, AL-ANON FAMILY GROUPS WORLD SERVICE HEADQUARTERS

34. SOURCE: 2009 MEMBER SURVEY, AL-ANON FAMILY GROUPS WORLD SERVICE HEADQUARTERS

35. Summary of More Key Findings The majority of members who: • Joined due to someone else’s drug use, later discover someone else’s alcoholism is also a factor. • Received treatment, counseling, or therapy before or after Al-Anon no longer do. • Were referred by a professional, attended Al-Anon because of the professional’s recommendation. • Members’ self-diagnoses of physical/mental health problems improved after Al-Anon. • 95% of members report improved quality of spiritual lifeafter Al-Anon. 2012 Al-Anon membership Survey Al-Anon Family Groups Headquarters, Inc.

36. Al-AnonMEMBERS TELLTHE WAY IT ISTODAY

37. CALL TO ACTION FOR EDUCATORS Call to Action WHAT EDUCATORS CAN DO TO HELP STUDENTS AFFECTED BY SOMEONE ELSE’S DRINKING

38. CALL TO ACTION FOR EDUCATORS EDUCATE YOURSELF. Attend open meetings Know how to find a meeting schedule Learn more online at www.area61afg.org

39. CALL TO ACTION FOR EDUCATORS 2. RECOGNIZE THE OPPORTUNITY.

40. CALL TO ACTION FOR EDUCATORS 3. ASK THE QUESTION.

41. CALL TO ACTION FOR EDUCATORS 4. SUGGEST AL-ANON ORALATEENif appropriate.

42. 5. FOLLOW UP WITH STUDENTSas appropriate. CALL TO ACTION FOR EDUCATORS

43. 6. INQUIRE ABOUT HOLDING AN ALATEEN MEETINGat your school. CALL TO ACTION FOR EDUCATORS

44. Dear Teacher, I think it’s time I told you why I have been acting out at school and crying sometimes. I think you know that something is wrong, because you keep asking me, “What’s the matter?” The reason I haven’t told you before is that I can’t talk to you in the hallway with all the other kids staring at me—and until now, I didn’t feel like I could talk to anybody about it.

45. I’m worried about my schoolwork. I keep getting in trouble for not doing my homework, and not listening in class. Sometimes I am so scared that I just get mad at everybody. I don’t mean to yell. I just feel like everyone is picking on me at home and at school. You see,my dad has a drinking problem. It’s called alcoholism. It means that he can’t control his drinking. He comes home some nights really drunk and yells at all of us.

46. Then mom yells back at him for being drunk and spending all the money. Sometimes he hits her, or my sister and me for no reason, just because he is drunk. Sometimes my sister and I are so scared that we hide in our room. I used to hate my mom and dad for all that—mom for yelling at dad and making him even madder, and dad for his drinking. I don’t hate them anymore because I found out why they were like that.

47. One day a lady came and talked to my mom, and I listened, too. She was the one who explained to us what alcoholism is.I learned that my dad was not horrible, just sick. He has a disease called alcoholism. She told us that when there is someone in the house with a drinking problem, the whole family gets hurt by it.

48. She also told my mom about Al-Anon and Alateen. That is where families and friends of problem drinkers go to understand the disease of alcoholism and how they can stop being so scared and mad all the time. Now mom goes to Al-Anon. It works, too. Mom doesn’t scream at dad or us as much anymore. I go to Alateen, that’s for kids affected by someone else’s drinking. Sometimes we have friends who drink too. Now I understand, and it feels good not to be the only one with my kind of problem.

49. I think that teachers and principals and other school staff should know about alcoholism, because then they would understand kids like me. If you know of any kids who might have a problem with a drinking parent or a drinking friend, you could tell them where they can get help. It really helped me. For more information please go to www.area61afg.org for locations of Al-Anon and Alateenmeetings. Signed, Your Student

50. For more information: publicoutreach@area61afg.org or visit www.area61afg.org TO ACCESS INFORMATION FOR YOU AND FORYOUR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO MAY BENEFIT FROM OUR ORGANIZATION