Al-Anon Family Groups offer help & hope in holiday season

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Al-Anon Family Groups offer help and hope in the holiday season.

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We’ve all heard of Alcoholics Anonymous, the support group that helps alcoholics find sobriety, but did you know there is a similar group dedicated to the wellbeing of the friends and families of alcoholics?

For every alcoholic it is estimated that up to ten people including friends, family, colleagues and others, are negatively affected by the persons drinking and behaviour. The holiday season often brings an increase in social drinking and this can create family problems and stress.

Al-Anon Family Groups are for families and friends who have been affected by the problem drinking of someone close to them.  In 2014 Al-Anon Family Group’s will be celebrating 60 years of offering help and hope to New Zealanders.

In a culture where ‘rugby, racing and beer’ is a well-recognised way of life, heavy drinking is prevalent as these statistics from the Health Promotion Agency show:

•        85 percent of New Zealanders aged 16 to 64 drank alcohol in the past year (Ministry of Health, 2009).
•        Three in five (61.6%) past-year drinkers consumed more than ALAC recommends (a maximum of six standard drinks for males and four for females on a drinking occasion) at least once during the last year (Ministry of Health, 2009).
•        One in eight (12.6%) past-year drinkers consumed more than the recommended guidelines more than once a week during the last year (Ministry of Health, 2009).
•        One in six (17.7%) adults (aged 15+) have a potentially hazardous drinking pattern (Ministry of Health, 2008).

Al-Anon Family Groups celebrates their NZ 60th anniversary in 2104. Weekly meetings can now be found throughout NZ with almost 100 registered groups and hundreds of meetings that are held in almost every major city, assisting many New Zealand families.

Al-Anon Family Groups offers help and hope to those affected by a loved ones drinking. Visit their website to find out the days and times of a meeting near you: www.al-anon.org.nz

ENDS

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