Sharp rise in Littlehampton families blighted by the bottle

Attendance at weekly meetings of Al-Anon Family Groups in the town has risen by about 50 per cent in the last couple of years, as the impact heavy drinking is increasingly having on society, generally, hits hard at home, too.

But in spite of the soaring demand for help, the co-ordinator of the two Al-Anon meetings in Littlehampton says more needs to be done to raise awareness of the group, in its 60th anniversary year.

John – not his real name – said: “Most people know what Alcoholics Anonymous is, but probably fewer than 10 per cent of the population knows about Al-Anon Family Groups. After 60 years, it’s not as well known as it should be – it’s such an important and wonderful fellowship of people who are suffering from the effects of alcohol.”

As the organisation’s latest newsletter declared in a headline: “You don’t have to drink to suffer from alcoholism.”

John, a retired businessman whose own family was badly affected by his wife’s alcoholism, said he believed the spiralling problems of alcohol abuse were a major factor in more people seeking help from Al-Anon and Al-Ateen, a relatively new group set up for the children and teenagers of alcoholics.

“People are more willing to talk about alcoholism these days. The stigma is fading. But it still takes courage for someone to come along to one of our meetings. They might visit our stand at Worthing Hospital or another event five or six times before finally coming to a meeting.

“But when they do come along, and say that their husband or wife is an alcoholic, someone might reply that their brother or sister is. Suddenly they realise they are not alone and other people are going through what they are going through.”

Many find Al-Anon through searching the internet and in this area there is a push to place more information in doctors’ surgeries.

Set up alongside Alcoholics Anonymous, to assist families of AA members, Al-Anon follows the same tenets of AA, including the 12 steps, or traditions, intended to develop a more positive, fulfilling outlook on life.

“It’s a framework for people to appreciate the spiritual fellowship of helping one another to get better. It’s a long-term programme, but it works,” explained John.

At a typical meeting, members are encouraged to share how they have been helped by following the steps and traditions over the previous week. Sometimes, speakers address specific issues.

Littlehampton meetings are held at the Friends’ Meeting House, Church Street, on Fridays at 8pm, and at the Sea Cadets’ headquarters, Rope Walk, on Sundays from 4-5.30pm.