Like Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon enforces a strict code of anonymity. There are 11 Al-Anon meetings each week in Great Falls where people can share experiences, seek advice and offer support. Attendance may range from half a dozen to 25 or more members.
Ages range from teens to grandparents.
While many of the members are women trying to deal with alcoholic husbands, some men also attend regularly. One of the main messages is to quit being an enabler, or one who unintentionally helps the alcoholic continue drinking. Take care of yourself, members are told, but demand that the alcoholic take care of herself or himself. Members are encouraged to identify suppressed emotions, accept responsibility for the way they feel and communicate freely. And I wasn't the one who had been drinking.