Al-Anon Family Group
Headquarters, Inc.
- 2018 Membership Survey Results and Longitudinal Comparison

2018 Al-Anon Membership Survey

Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.

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Background and Objectives
Al-Anon Family Groups (Al-Anon) provide friends and families of alcoholics with theopportunity to share their experiences and find strength and hope.

The Al-Anon World Service Office (WSO) has conducted a membership survey every
three years since 1984. The 2018 Membership Survey is the WSO’s twelfth study. Thefindings are an aid to professionals, researchers, students, the media and anyone
seeking information about Al-Anon Family Groups.
Specific objectives for the study were to:••••

Determine the demographic and sociographic profile of Al-Anon Family Group members;
Identify the relationship between members and alcoholics;
Measure the impact that alcoholism has had on members’ lives; andDetermine the Al-Anon program’s impact on the quality of life of its members.

2018 Al-Anon Membership Survey

Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.

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Methodology•Al-Anon Family Group members were provided with a URL for the online
membership survey. The survey information was posted on al-anon.org anddelivered via the monthly magazine, email newsletter and internal
communications portal. Additionally, a flyer was sent to all the groups.

•World Service Office Staff wrote, tallied and created the presentation of the survey
results. Both the online survey hosting and data collection was conducted by WSO
Staff using an online survey platform. The methodology was validated by anoutside research vendor.

•Data was collected from January 10 to February 27, 2018, with 13,395 Al-Anon
Family Group members participating. The average time taken to complete thesurvey was 45 minutes.

2018 Al-Anon Membership Survey

Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.

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Survey Participation

Total Survey Completions•13,395

Language Breakdown•••

United States: 88.7%

Canada: 11.2%

Bermuda: 0.1%

Puerto Rico: 0.1%

English: 97%
French: 2%
Spanish: 1%

2018 Al-Anon Membership Survey

Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.

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Age of Survey Participants

Malen=13,280

17 - 20
21 - 24
25 - 28
29 - 32
33 - 36
37 - 40
41 - 4445 - 48
49 - 52
53 - 56
57 - 60
61 - 64
65 - 68
69 - 72
73 - 76
77 - 80
81 - 84
85 - 88
89 - 92Female* No members under 17 were surveyed

The average age of female members is 61; they accounted for 85% of all survey participants.
Male members are on average 2 years older.
2018 Al-Anon Membership Survey

Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.

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Age at First Meeting

Malen=13,003< 1717 - 20
21 - 24
25 - 28
29 - 32
33 - 36
37 - 40
41 - 4445 - 48
49 - 52
53 - 56
57 - 60
61 - 64
65 - 68
69 - 72
73 - 76
77 - 80
81 - 84
85 - 88

Female

The average age of female members when they first attended Al-Anon was 43,
while male members tended to be 5 years older when they attended their first meeting.
2018 Al-Anon Membership Survey

Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.

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Age Comparison

Age at First Meeting< 1717 - 20
21 - 24
25 - 28
29 - 32
33 - 36
37 - 40
41 - 4445 - 48
49 - 52
53 - 56
57 - 60
61 - 64
65 - 68
69 - 72
73 - 76
77 - 80
81 - 84
85 – 88
89 - 92

Age at Time of Survey

n=13,003

n=13,280

While 58% of survey participants are between the ages of 57 and 72,
56% were between the ages of 25 and 48 when they first attended Al-Anon meetings.
2018 Al-Anon Membership Survey

Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.

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Demographic Profile

Males

63% Married

59% Married• 25% have partners• 21% have partners
who are A.A.
members.

• 16% are also A.A.

73% College
Graduate

65% College
Graduate

who are A.A.
members.

• 7% are also A.A.
members.

members.

• 10% have partners• 6% have partners
who are actively
drinking.

Females

92% White

92% White

n=1,996

n=11,121

who are actively
drinking.

Female members have a higher percentage of partners who are drinking or in A.A., while male members are
more likely to be A.A. members themselves. Male members are also more likely to be married.
2018 Al-Anon Membership Survey

Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.

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Member Involvement in Al-AnonMember Involvement

How many years ofcontinuous attendance

Members have, on average, attended meetings for 14 years:• 24% have attended 3 years or less.
• 25% have attended 4 to 9 years.
• 51% have attended 10+ years.

n=12,881

How many meetings
per week• 99% attend 1 or more meetings per week.
• 58% attend 2 or more meetings per week.
• 13% attend 4 or more meetings per week.

n=13,332

99% attend face-to-face meetings at least once per week.

What type of meetingsn= 13,332

2018 Al-Anon Membership Survey

9% attend telephone meetings at least once per week.
7% attend online meetings (such as Facebook, email, Skypeor other internet meetings) at least once per week.

Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.

9Children of Members

12% of members have a child who isunder 18 living in their home.

15% of members have a child who is
15%

18 years or older living in their home.
n=13,151

n=13,328

Of those children under the age of 18:

15%
Attend Al-Anon/
Alateen meetings

Of those children over the age of 18:

Have their own
drinking problems

7%

Have their own
drinking problems

3%

Attend Al-Anon/
Alateen meetings31%

n=1,548

n=1,965

Children under 18 are more likely to attend Al-Anon/Alateen meetings than children over 18.
Of members with children over 18 still living at home; about 1 in 3 children have a drinking problem.
2018 Al-Anon Membership Survey

Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.

10Generational Trends of Alcoholism

Top Generational Trends
Approximately 7 in 10 members have been affected byalcoholism that spans 2 or more generations.

Members reporting alcoholism in 2or more generations stated thatthey were negatively affected by:

44%

Their parents&
Their own generation*

32%

Their own generation*&
Their children

20%

Their parents&
Their children

Note: “Their own generation ” = siblings and members’ romantic
relationships

n=13,302

The majority of members reported that they have been negatively
affected by alcoholism that spans 2 or more generations.
2018 Al-Anon Membership Survey

Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.

11Members Who Initially Attended Al-Anondue to a Family Member or Friend’s Drug Use
50% of members

50%

indicated that thefamily member orfriend who
had led them toinitially attend
Al-Anon meetings
had a history ofdrug use.

6.3 k

7k

5k
2.8 k

2.8 k
2.2 k

3k500
This Person Led MemberTo Join Al-AnonChild35%

1.8 k 1.7 k

This Person Has a
History of Drug UseThis Person's Drug Use Led
Member To Join Al-AnonSpouse

While more members first joined Al-Anonbecause of their spouse, members’ children
have a much higher likelihood of having ahistory of using drugs and of leading members
to join Al-Anon because of this drug use.

35% of members
specifically joined
because of thisdrug use.

n=13,333

While 35% of members first came to Al-Anon because of a loved one’s drug use,
78% of these continued their attendance due to someone’s drinking having also negatively affected their life.
2018 Al-Anon Membership Survey

Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.

12Members Diagnosed with Mental Health Disorders
n=13,327

29% of members havebeen diagnosed with amental health disorder.

59% of thosediagnosed are also
children of alcoholics.

29%
59%
Top Issues
92% of members diagnosed with a mental
health disorder reported that they sufferedfrom PTSD, anxiety or depression.

10% reported they were diagnosed with all 3.

n=6,737

A child of an alcoholic is 68% more likely to be diagnosed
with a mental health disorder than a spouse of an alcoholic.
2018 Al-Anon Membership Survey

Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.

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Professional Advocacy of Al-Anon

28% of members reported thatthey initially heard about Al-Anonfrom a professional.

28%

84% began attending Al-Anonmeetings because of theprofessional’s referral.

84%

n=13,321

More than 1 in 4 members first heard about Al-Anon from professionals
such as counselors, therapists and social workers.
2018 Al-Anon Membership Survey

Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.

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Members Who Have Sought
Treatment, Counseling or Therapy

78% of members have sought
professional treatment, counselingor therapy.

78%
Of the members who have sought help• 69% either started or continued treatment,
counseling or therapy after joining Al-Anon.

n=13,361

Of members who continued receiving treatment, counseling or therapy after attending Al-Anon meetings and whoranked their experience, 42% indicated an improvement in their treatment, counseling or therapy since attending
Al-Anon.
2018 Al-Anon Membership Survey

Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.

15Members Who Have Experienced Abuse

56% of members have experienced
abuse*

45% of members have experienced
abuse & sought help•

• The most common forms of treatment,
counseling or therapy used by those
who have sought help are mental
health, marriage and family.

49% of members have experienced
emotional and verbal abuse at thesame time.

45%

56%

n=13,253

Note: “abuse” = physical, sexual, emotional or verbal

11% of members are still experiencing abuse.
2018 Al-Anon Membership Survey

Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.

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Member Self-Assessment of Mental Health& Years of Continuous Membership in Al-AnonYears of Continuous Membership
86%

89%

90%90%90%

92%

91%

90%

67%

66%

70%

72%

74%

76%

76%

4 to 5Years

6 to 7Years

8 to 9Years

10 to 19Years

20 to 29Years

30 to 39Years

40+ Years

76%
Improvement

SignificantImprovement61%
44%
0 to 1Years

2 to 3
Years

Members reported, on average, an 88% improvement in their assessment of their mental health frombefore they began attending Al-Anon meetings to the time of the 2018 Membership Survey.

67% reported a significant improvement in their mental health.
n=12,973

Within 2 to 3 years of continuous membership in Al-Anon,
the average member will report an 86% improvement.
2018 Al-Anon Membership Survey

Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.

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Spiritual Inclination of Members& Benefits to Their Well-Being
Belonging to or practicing a specific religion
Before Attending Al-Anon Meetings

After Attending Al-Anon Meetings

65%

75%

Mental Health Score

Mental Health Score
12341

5Avg Score 2.1

2345

Avg Score 4.1• 13% did not have any spiritual inclination
n=13,1342018 Al-Anon Membership Survey

Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.

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Spiritual Inclination of Members& Benefits to Their Well-Being
Not belonging to or practicing a specific religion
Before Attending Al-Anon Meetings

After Attending Al-Anon Meetings

35%82%

Mental Health Score

Mental Health Score
123451

Avg Score 2.0

2345Avg Score 4.1

n=13,134

After attending Al-Anon meetings, 98% of members not belonging to a specific religion saw anincrease in the quality of their spiritual life whether they joined a specific religion or not.
2018 Al-Anon Membership Survey

Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.

19Al-Anon’s Effectiveness in Members’ Daily Well-Being
n=13,342

How has being a member of Al-Anon Family Groups affected your life?

12

3

4

5

Avg Score 4.91
Very negatively

93% of members’ lives havebeen very positively affectedby Al-Anon Family Groups.

Very positively

Emotional state before versus after attending
Al-Anon meetings

Condition of daily life before versus after attending
Al-Anon meetings

93%
93% of members havereported that they haveseen a decrease in theoccurrence of negative
emotions and an increasein positive emotions.

improvementin their emotional state83%improvementin their daily life75%
significant improvementin their emotional state62%
significant improvementin their daily life

83% of members havereported that they haveseen an improvement inthe condition of theireveryday life, such as
work or home life.

n=12,824

n=13,229

After having attended Al-Anon meetings, members report improved
well-being across the board, in their daily life and their emotional state.
2018 Al-Anon Membership Survey

Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.

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Al-Anon Family Group
Headquarters, Inc.

Al-Anon Family Group
Headquarters (Canada) Inc.

1600 Corporate Landing Parkway
Virginia Beach, VA 23454-5617

275 Slater Street, Suite 900
Ottawa, ON K1P 5H9

Email: wso@al-anon.org
Main: (757) 563-1600
Fax: (757) 563-1656

Email: wso@al-anon.ca
Main: (613) 723-8484

For meeting information:
Visit al-anon.org or call 1-888-4AL-ANON2018 Al-Anon Membership Survey

Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.

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