"Many of us come to Al-Anon filled with despair and hopelessness. Some of us come to find out how to get another person sober; others grew up in alcoholic homes. Though we may not have labeled it this way, we come to Al-Anon because our lives are unmanageable - we come looking for relief.

The First Step illustrates an important concept in Al-Anon recovery: we are not alone…

In order to take the first step and admit our powerlessness over alcoholism, we need first to understand and accept alcoholism as a disease.

Alcoholism is a family disease. This means the alcoholism of one member of the family affects the whole family, and all become sick. Why does that happen? Because, unlike diabetes, alcoholism not only exists inside the body of the alcoholic, but is a disease of relationships as well. The people who are involved with the alcoholic react to his (her) behavior."

(From PATHS TO RECOVERY, a book of AFG approved literature)