When seeking support for addiction—whether your own or that of a loved one—the world of 12-Step fellowships can feel overwhelming. Many programs use similar language and structure, yet they serve different needs. In this blog, we explore two powerful fellowships: Families Anonymous (FA) and Food Addicts Anonymous (FAA). Both borrow foundational principles from Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), yet each has a unique focus. We’ll outline their 12 Steps, their histories, and how individuals can determine which program is the best fit for their journey.
Families Anonymous: Healing for Families Affected by a Loved One’s Addiction
The Origin Story
Founded in 1971 in California, Families Anonymous (FA) was created by a group of parents who were struggling to cope with the drug addiction of their children. They discovered that Alcoholics Anonymous’ 12 Steps offered a powerful blueprint for recovery—not for the addict, but for themselves.
FA is a 12-Step fellowship for relatives and friends of individuals with drug, alcohol, or behavioral problems. It focuses on healing the family system, emphasizing self-care, detachment with love, and the understanding that we cannot control others, only ourselves.
The 12 Steps of Families Anonymous
- We admitted we were powerless over drugs and other people’s lives—that our lives had become unmanageable.
- Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
- Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
- Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
- Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
- Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
- Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
- Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
- Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
- Continued to take personal inventory, and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
- Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
- Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
Food Addicts Anonymous: A Fellowship for Those Struggling with Food Addiction
The Origin Story
Food Addicts Anonymous (FAA) was founded in 1987 by a woman in West Palm Beach, Florida, who had tried numerous diets and weight-loss plans without lasting success. After discovering the 12 Steps of AA, she applied those principles to food addiction, particularly addiction to sugar, flour, and wheat.
FAA defines food addiction as a biochemical disorder. The program requires complete abstinence from specific substances (similar to alcohol in AA) and promotes a structured food plan, spiritual connection, and peer support.
The 12 Steps of Food Addicts Anonymous
- We admitted we were powerless over food—that our lives had become unmanageable.
- Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
- Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
- Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
- committed to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
- Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
- Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
- Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
- Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
- Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
- Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
- Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to food addicts and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
The AA Connection: A Legacy of Healing Across Addictions
Both FA and FAA are spiritually based and modeled after the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith. AA’s revolutionary idea—that addiction is a physical, emotional, and spiritual illness—set the stage for numerous other fellowships to emerge. What AA did for alcoholism, FA and FAA now do for families and food addicts respectively.
Each of these fellowships recognizes that while the addiction may vary, the underlying principles of recovery remain universal: acceptance, surrender, self-inventory, amends, and spiritual growth.
FA or FAA: Which One Do You Need?
When people search for “FA meetings” or “FA recovery,” it’s important to note that both Families Anonymous and Food Addicts Anonymous use the acronym “FA.” This can cause confusion. Here’s a guide to clarify:
| If you are | Program You Need | Fellowship Name |
|---|---|---|
| A family member or friend of someone with addiction or destructive behavior | Families Anonymous | FA |
| Struggling personally with food addiction, especially to sugar/flour/wheat | Food Addicts Anonymous | FAA (also called FA) |
Be sure to read program descriptions and meeting literature carefully before attending your first meeting. Both programs are anonymous, free to attend, and welcoming to newcomers.
Final Thoughts: There Is a Program for You
Whether you’re grieving the chaos of a loved one’s addiction or silently struggling with food obsession, there is a 12-Step fellowship that can meet you where you are. Families Anonymous and Food Addicts Anonymous offer hope, tools, and a path toward serenity. What they share in common with AA is a profound belief in transformation—one day at a time, one step at a time.
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