Al Anon

Al Anon Family Groups, which meet in multiple locations around Bakersfield, California, provide support for people who have friends or loved ones struggling with addiction, especially to alcohol. Some meetings are open to the public while others are closed to only families and friends of those struggling.

Al Anon helps loved ones of those experiencing substance use disorder (SUD) address common problems they face, such as the tendency to enable when they’re trying to help, difficulty differentiating between support and pity, and needing to focus on their own goals rather than the other person’s problems. The group is helpful for family and friends of those struggling with addiction, whether they ever go to alcohol or drug rehab or not.

Just like with Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings, there are multiple types of Al Anon meetings. There may be meetings in non English languages, meetings focused on specific genders or ethnicities, online meetings, and more. The group uses an adapted 12 step format and encourages members to deepen their spiritual lives and focus on their accountability.

Al Anon doesn’t charge a fee, although there may be freewill offerings. They may refer participants to services such as counseling that accept private health insurance like Aetna, Humana, Cigna, United Healthcare, Magellan Health, Bright Health, and more. Individual insurance plans vary, so be sure to contact the insurer to get full coverage details and out of network benefits.