Key Takeaways
- Al-Anon is for people affected by someone else's drinking. Nar-Anon is for people affected by someone else's drug use. Both are free, peer-led 12-step groups.
- If your loved one uses both alcohol and drugs, either group can work. Many people choose based on which meeting fits their schedule and feels most comfortable.
- These groups are built to support you. If your main goal is getting your loved one into treatment, pairing a group with an approach like CRAFT may help more.
- Non-12-step, teen, faith-based and grief-focused options also exist.
If someone you love is struggling with alcohol or drugs, you’ve probably wondered about Al-Anon vs. Nar-Anon. The short answer to how they differ: Al-Anon supports people affected by someone else’s drinking, and Nar-Anon supports people affected by someone else’s drug use. Both are free, confidential and peer-led fellowships built on the 12 steps.
But alcohol or drugs is rarely the question that matters most. Many families are dealing with both, and the more useful question is what you need right now. This guide compares the two groups side by side, then matches common needs to the support built for them.
Al-Anon and Nar-Anon at a Glance
| Al-Anon | Nar-Anon | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it’s for | People affected by a relative or friend’s drinking | People affected by a relative or friend’s drug use |
| Format | Peer-led 12-step meetings in person, online and by phone | Peer-led 12-step meetings in person and online |
| Cost | Free; voluntary contributions | Free; voluntary contributions |
| Religious? | Spiritually based but not affiliated with any religion | Describes itself as a spiritual program, not a religious one |
| Teen program | Alateen, for young people affected by someone else’s drinking, with a certified adult sponsor | Narateen, for teens affected by someone else’s drug use |
| Find a meeting | al-anon.org or 888-425-2666 (U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico) | nar-anon.org or 800-477-6291 |
Both groups are separate from Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, which are for the person who’s drinking or using. You don’t need your loved one to be in recovery, or even to know you’re going, to attend. Al-Anon and Nar-Anon each list meetings on their websites, including online options, and our Al-Anon hotline guide explains how its meeting line works.
What These Groups Do and What They Don’t Do
Al-Anon and Nar-Anon are designed to help you ease isolation, share coping strategies and focus on your own well-being whether or not your loved one changes. Many members describe that as life-changing.
They aren’t designed to get your loved one into treatment, and research reflects that difference. In a clinical trial comparing family counseling approaches, 13% of problem drinkers entered treatment after their relatives received Al-Anon facilitation counseling, compared with 64% after relatives received Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT), a skills-based approach. A 2010 review found that family members’ own well-being improved across all the approaches studied. If getting your loved one into care is your main goal, a group for you plus CRAFT-based skills can be a strong combination. Our guide to talking to a loved one about addiction can help you prepare for that conversation.
Which Support Fits What You Need?
Use this table to match your situation to the support built for it. Many people use more than one.
| What you need | Support built for it | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Support and community for yourself | Al-Anon (drinking) or Nar-Anon (drug use) | If your loved one uses both, try whichever meeting fits your schedule. Members often suggest visiting several before deciding. |
| A non-12-step option | SMART Recovery Family & Friends | Free meetings in person and online, using tools from cognitive behavioral approaches and CRAFT. |
| Help encouraging your loved one into treatment | A therapist trained in CRAFT, plus a group for yourself | CRAFT teaches you to reward sober time, step back from rescuing and choose the right moment to suggest treatment. |
| Support for a teenager | Alateen or Narateen | Alateen groups are led by teens with certified adult sponsors; Narateen groups have certified adult facilitators. |
| A faith-based setting | Celebrate Recovery | A Christian program open to people affected by a loved one’s addiction as well as those in recovery. Our Christian resources page lists more faith-based options. |
| Support after losing someone to overdose | GRASP (Grief Recovery After a Substance Passing) | Founded by parents who lost children to addiction, with local and online groups for families. |
What to Expect at Your First Meeting
Most meetings follow a simple format: a short reading, then members take turns sharing their own experiences. You don’t have to speak, give your full name or explain your situation. Open meetings welcome anyone, while closed meetings are only for people affected by someone’s substance use. It’s common to feel nervous at first, and many people try a few different meetings before finding one that feels right.
Peer Support Isn’t Crisis Care
Support groups are a source of connection, not emergency help or treatment.
- If your loved one has overdosed or may have overdosed, give naloxone if you have it and call 911.
- If you or your loved one is having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988.
- If there are threats or violence at home, call 911 in an emergency or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233.
If you’re not sure which group fits or want information about treatment options for your loved one, the National Rehab Hotline is available 24/7 to provide information, guidance and referrals. Call 866-210-1303. It’s free and confidential.
You Don’t Have to Do This Alone
If you or someone you love is in immediate danger, call 911. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988. The National Rehab Hotline at 866-210-1303 is for non-emergency information, support and referrals.
Whichever group you choose, reaching out for support is a strong step for you and your family. When you’re ready to take the next step, call the National Rehab Hotline at 866-210-1303, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What’s the Difference Between Al-Anon and Nar-Anon? Al-Anon supports people affected by someone else’s drinking, while Nar-Anon supports people affected by someone else’s drug use. Both are free, peer-led 12-step fellowships, and both are separate from AA and NA, which are for the person with the substance use disorder.
- Can I Go to Al-Anon If My Loved One Uses Drugs? Yes. Many families deal with both alcohol and drugs, and people often attend whichever group has a meeting that fits their schedule and feels comfortable. Some people attend both.
- Are Al-Anon and Nar-Anon Religious? Neither group is affiliated with a religion. Both describe themselves as spiritually based and welcome people of any faith or none. If you’d prefer a secular approach, SMART Recovery Family & Friends is an alternative.
- Do Al-Anon or Nar-Anon Cost Anything? No. Meetings are free. Groups may pass a basket for voluntary contributions, but giving is never required.
- Can the National Rehab Hotline Help Me Find Support for My Family? Yes. Calling 866-210-1303 is free and confidential, and you can get information about family support options and treatment resources for your loved one. Your loved one doesn’t need to be on the line or know you called.
Whenever you’re ready, calling 866-210-1303 is free, confidential and commits you to nothing.
Sources
- Al-Anon Family Groups. How do I find a meeting? (FAQ).
- Nar-Anon Family Groups. Find a Meeting.
- SMART Recovery. Family & Friends program brochure (2026).
- Miller, W. R., Meyers, R. J., & Tonigan, J. S. (1999). Engaging the unmotivated in treatment for alcohol problems: A comparison of three strategies for intervention through family members. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 67(5), 688–697.
- Roozen, H. G., de Waart, R., & van der Kroft, P. (2010). Community reinforcement and family training: An effective option to engage treatment-resistant substance-abusing individuals in treatment. Addiction, 105(10), 1729–1738.
- Archer, M., Harwood, H., Stevelink, S., Rafferty, L., & Greenberg, N. (2020). Community reinforcement and family training and rates of treatment entry: A systematic review. Addiction, 115(6), 1024–1037.
