Al-Anon, a support group for individuals who have been impacted by or have cared for family members, friends or people with addictions has re-established in Burdekin after a 15 year hiatus.
The original Burdekin support group ran for 30 years before sadly closing its doors due to losing regular participants. However, the driving force behind the revival is Melanie. Melanie returned to Ayr in February, having lived in the Tablelands for four years and was eager to give the group a new lease of life having experienced a similar group while up in Northern Queensland.
Melanie encourages everyone who has parents, partners, friends and children who are living with a drug or alcohol addiction to join the group and share their experiences. The group emphasises that “not everyone trapped by alcohol is an alcoholic”, and the network and carers behind the scenes need just as much support as those suffering with addiction.
While it can be scary and intimidating to reach out to get support, Melanie states that people can expect a real sense of “community, support and fellowship” when joining. She stresses to anyone that feels hesitant about coming, that the group is anonymous, with no last names shared.
Melanie also reinforced the group's motto which is “Whom you see here, what you hear here, when you leave here, let it stay here.”
Having gone through a tough time herself with family, friends and an abusive partner who struggled with alcohol addiction, Melanie is empathetic to those also caring for and being impacted by individuals with addiction. She added to this stating she recovered “quite quickly” after her breakup, because of this group.
Melanie noted that the sessions “focus on the self,” not the outside aspects, and helps individuals understand that they are not alone.
While there are groups for alcoholics and recovering alcoholics, Melanie affirmed that this one is mainly a support group for the family and friends of problem drinkers.
The group has specific literature to help support you in learning more about alcoholism and how it affects families and friends. It also practices a program of recovery adapted from Alcoholics Anonymous.
Alcohol misuse can destroy familial relationships and cause a divide. It can lead alcohol misusers to spend family budgets, start arguments, neglect or ignore children and otherwise impact the people they love’s welfare and happiness.
In 2022 to 2023, one in five Australians (approximately 4.6 million) age 14 and over, were verbally abused, physically abused or put in fear by someone under the influence of alcohol in the past 12 months. These alarming statistics show how unfortunately common it is to be impacted by someone with an alcohol problem.
If Al-anon is something that you would like to join, please come and join Melanie on a Tuesday from 4pm to 5pm at the Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre. Al-Anon also has specific groups for teens affected by someone else’s drinking.
Website: al-anon.org.au
Phone: 1300 252 666 – to talk to a member in confidence.
Website for adult children struggling with parents with alcohol addictions and dysfunctional families: adultchildren.org
What:Al-Anon support group for individuals affected by family/friends with addiction
When:Every Tuesday from 4pm to 5pm
Where:Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre, 40 Chippendale St, Ayr QLD 4807
Alcoholics Anonymous Group
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