The Difference between ACA and Al-Anon
ACA focuses on recovering from the effects of being raised in a dysfunctional family rather than the Al-Anon focus of being powerless over alcohol. The ACA Laundry List (The 14 Traits) or common behaviors are the effects that detail the adult child personality.
The ACA 3rd Tradition States:
The only requirement for membership in ACA is a desire to recover from the effects of growing up in an alcoholic or otherwise dysfunctional family.
Al-Anon 3rd Tradition States:
The relatives of alcoholics, when gathered together for mutual aid, may call themselves an Al-Anon Family Group, provided that, as a group, they have no other affiliation. The only requirement for membership is that there be a problem of alcoholism in a relative or friend.
Al-Anon meetings with an adult child focus are not ACA groups.
Some Al-Anon meetings are known as ACAP, AFG or Al-Anon ACoA, but they do not use ACA approved literature. We cooperate with Al-Anon and all Twelve Step programs, but ACA meetings use ONLY ACA approved literature that includes "The Laundry List" and "The Solution" in addition to the "ACA 12 Steps and Traditions."