Alcoholism affects not only the person battling it, but often those they love.

Local anti-addiction organization Dawson Against Substance Abuse has asked assistance from a group program that offers hope for those affected by alcoholics.

According to the director of a local child-centered nonprofit organization, a new Al-Anon support group has formed in Dawson County, holding the first of what organizers hope will be many weekly meetings last week.

“Al-Anon is a prevention measure,” said Nancy Stites, director of Family Connection.“And Family Connection is all about prevention, so we applaud this.”

According to its Web site, Al-Anon “has been offering strength and hope for friends and families of problem drinkers” for more than 55 years.

Al-Anon members share personal experiences and support to provide strength and hope.

Stites said that Dawson County residents contacted regional Al-Anon representatives, who then visited to meet with them.

“We talked to them about the need in the community,” she said.

Stites said there is no facilitator.

“This is strictly people getting together and sharing,” she said. “Once people start coming to the meetings, it becomes its own entity and sort of energizes itself.”

She said there has been overwhelming interest from the community about the meetings.

“We hope it will grow and grow and grow,” she said.