How to Read the Al-Anon Membership Survey
A survey can help you understand what respondents report about their experience. It cannot tell you what will happen to a particular person who attends next week. When you come across a statistic about Al-Anon, the most useful first step is to find the report it came from.
Find the report behind the figure
Begin at the official membership survey page and locate the report year attached to the statistic. The 2024 report is one example. Record the year and the particular question, not just the headline percentage. A figure from an older report can continue circulating after a new summary appears.
If the wording is unclear in a slide or social post, look for it in the source. Check whether the number describes all respondents, only people who answered one item or a narrower group. A missing denominator can change the meaning of a statement without changing any of the digits shown.
Ask who the answers represent
A membership survey gathers responses from people who participated in the survey. It does not automatically represent everyone affected by another person's drinking or everyone who ever attended an Al-Anon meeting. People who choose to respond may have different experiences from those who do not.
When you summarise a finding, write who reported it. Saying survey respondents reported a particular experience is more precise than saying Al-Anon causes a particular outcome. If you want to compare two reports, check whether their questions and respondent groups are similar enough for your purpose.
Keep the next decision proportionate
A person considering a meeting may want information about what other members report, but the next practical question is often which meeting fits their circumstances. The survey does not tell you the format, access details or contact information for a specific group. Use the official meeting resources for those questions.
If you are sharing the findings in a family conversation, offer them as background. Avoid using a statistic to pressure somebody to attend or to set a deadline for change. Where a question calls for professional care or advice, the survey is not a substitute for it.
The 2024 report says its anonymous online questionnaire received 15,375 responses in June and July. Some items show smaller bases than the full response count. Those two details make a useful reading exercise: find a chart, identify the number of people counted in it and state the result in terms of those respondents.
Separate participation from a token
A report may include questions about involvement or time in the fellowship. Those categories do not set a universal schedule for recognition. Our guide to Al-Anon token customs covers the separate topic of tokens and local customs. Ask a specific group about its practices rather than inferring them from a membership report.
If you are choosing a gift for an AA anniversary, use information the recipient has confirmed. An Al-Anon survey result is not a basis for choosing a sobriety year. Keep the gift decision about that person, their milestone and their preferences.
Medallions to consider
For a separately confirmed AA anniversary, these are two optional retail keepsakes. Check the recipient's preferred design before ordering.
Tricolor Jet Black Diamond Sparkle (1-50y)
The milestone selector lists 1 to 50 years. The photo shows XLV as a sample. Select the recipient's confirmed milestone on the product page.
Tricolor Opulent Deep Blue (24h, 1-65y)
The milestone selector lists 1 to 65 years, plus 24 Hours, 18 Months. The photo shows XXV as a sample. Select the recipient's confirmed milestone on the product page.
Common questions
Does the survey prove an outcome for every member?
No. Read it as evidence about its respondents and the questions they answered.
Can I use a survey to decide when a group gives a token?
No. Ask the individual group about recognition customs.
Keep reading
Explore Elite Medallions and Deluxe Coins to compare designs and available milestones.
