Families Anonymous (FA) is a

twelve-step program Twelve-step programs are international mutual aid programs supporting recovery from substance addictions, behavioral addictions and compulsions. Developed in the 1930s, the first twelve-step program, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), founded by B ...

for relatives and friends of addicts. FA was founded in 1971 by a group of parents in

Southern California Southern California (commonly shortened to SoCal) is a geographic and Cultural area, cultural List of regions of California, region that generally comprises the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Its densely populated coastal reg ...

concerned with their children's

substance abuse Substance misuse, also known as drug misuse or, in older vernacular, substance abuse, is the use of a drug in amounts or by methods that are harmful to the individual or others. It is a form of substance-related disorder, differing definition ...

Goal

The focus of FA is on supporting members rather than changing the behavior of their friend or relative with a substance abuse problem.

Tough love Tough love is the act of treating a person sternly or harshly with the intent to help them in the long run. People exhibit and act upon tough love when attempting to address someone else's undesirable behaviour. Tough love can be used in many sce ...

is suggested as an approach to use when dealing with addicts—members do not need to rescue addicts from the consequences of problems the addicts have created, and members should be willing to offend addicts if necessary. One study suggested the therapeutic effects of participation included a process of

internalization Internalization may refer to: * Internalization (sociology) *Internalization (psychology) ** Internalizing disorder *Internalization (biology) Endocytosis is a cellular process in which substances are brought into the cell. The material to be ...

from the stories and information shared,

rationalization Rationalization may refer to: * Rationalization (economics), an attempt to change an ''ad hoc'' workflow into one based on published rules; also, jargon for a reduction in staff * Rationalisation (mathematics), the process of removing a square roo ...

and freeing from

guilt Guilt most commonly refers to: *Guilt (emotion), an emotion that occurs when a person feels that they have violated a moral standard *Culpability, a legal term *Guilt (law), a legal term Music * ''Guilt'' (album), a 2009 album by Mims * "Guilt" ( ...

regarding the behavior of the abuser, and The Traditions protecting anonymity which allow members to reduce potential stigma acquired from membership.

Activities

As of 2007 there are FA arrange meetings in more than 20 countries and about 225 regular meetings in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

. A survey of FA groups in

Lisbon, Portugal Lisbon ( ; ) is the capital and largest city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 567,131, as of 2023, within its administrative limits and 3,028,000 within the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, metropolis, as of 2025. Lisbon is mainlan ...

found members were mostly female, 45–60 years old, and mothers of substance abusing children. FA's original literature includes the book ''Today a Better Way'' on the principles of the FA program, a newsletter, the ''Twelve Step Rag'', as well as several pamphlets and booklets.

References

External links

Official WebsiteFamilies Anonymous Portugal
{{Authority control Twelve-step programs Organizations established in 1971 Non-profit organizations based in California Addiction organizations in the United States 1971 establishments in California

Goal

Activities

See also

References

External links