The Difference between ACA and Al-Anon
ACA Meetings emphasize the importance of recovering from the effects of being raised in a dysfunctional family, contrasting with the Al-Anon differences that focus on feeling powerless over alcohol. The ACA Laundry List, which details 14 common traits or behaviors, outlines the personality impact on adult children from Dysfunctional Families.
AL-Anon has not incorporated the Laundry List which are the effects of growing up in a dysfunctional family. The Laundry List is the basis for ACA's Step One.
The ACA 3rd Tradition States:
"The only requirement for membership in ACA is a desire to recover from the effects of growing up in a dysfunctional family". This journey of dysfunctional family recovery is supported through ACA Meetings, which differ significantly from Al-Anon in their focus and approach.
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 ACA), but they differ from ACA Meetings as they do not use ACA approved Literature. While we cooperate with Al-Anon and all Twelve Step programs, it's important to note that ACA Meetings exclusively use ACA approved literature, which includes 'The Laundry List' and 'The Solution,' along with the ACA 12 Steps and 12 Traditions' as part of the process for dysfunctional family recovery.