An FA meeting is a place for parents, family, and friends (not the addict) to find support in dealing with their loved ones' addiction. Members share their stories and learn from one another. Most find comfort in hearing others who have been through similar circumstances.

The meeting opens with several helpful readings followed by the group leader's personal story of "what I was like before FA, what happened, and what am I like now."

After a short break individuals have time to share their personal struggles and successes. Each person has a chance to talk and share unless they choose not to. In that case, the person simply says "I pass." At the end of the meeting everyone stands and says the Serenity Prayer. Most groups add one more expression, "keep coming back, it works if you work it."

Literature.

FA literature is helpful in building a foundation to be able to respond appropriately. The booklets & phamphlets are available at the meeting or by ordering through the World Service Board. Below are quotes from some of the FA literature.

Setting Boundaries...

Preparation Work:

1. I must acknowledge that I have rights: to express my views, to be treated with respect, to say "no" when needed, to change my mind, to make mistakes, to ask questions, to ask for what I want or need, and, finally, to set boundaries. Without belief in this principle, I have no moral basis for setting boundaries.

2. Given these rights, I have a responsibility to communicate by expressing my thoughts and feelings clearly, so that others will know where I stand: I must say what I mean, not aggressively, but in an assertive way that allows me to be honest about my feelings.

3. I also need to check that my own behavior is within the boundaries of my life and does not spill over interfering with the lives of others; which is doing for other people what they could and should do for themselves.

from Setting Boundaries... A Very Loving Thing to Do #1028

Helping

My role as helper is not to do things for the person I am trying to help, but to be things; not to try to control and change his actions, but through understanding and awareness, to change my reactions.

I will change my dominance to encouragement; panic to serenity; the inertia of despair to the energy of my own personal growth; and self-justification to self - understanding.

from A Basic Pamphlet #1001

Letting Grow...

Letting grow is allowing others to have a bad experience so that they can learn from it.

is giving the other person the dignity of finding his own solutions.

is refusing to be someone else's safety net so they will learn to weave their own.

is allowing the other person to have some discomfort.

from Bookmark #2012

The Twelve Promises

1. We are gong to know a freedom from worry and a new happiness.

2. We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it.

3. We will comprehend the word serenity.

4. We will know peace.

from The Twelve Promises of Families Anonymous #2011