PREMA SAHNI (name changed) shuddered each time the doorbell rang. With an alcoholic husband, Sahni never knew what to expect when he came home. Violence was a part of life.

Not only her husband, Sahni herself needed help. "I used to resent my husband's drinking. I threatened to divorce him, and once even attempted suicide," she said.

Seven years ago, life changed after Sahni came in contact with Al Anon, a support group for those living with alcoholics. She learnt that alcoholism was a disease. "My life revolved around his drinking. The day he didn't drink, the family would be happy, else we would sulk."

The change that Al Anon brought about in her, her husband too started feeling responsible and eventually gave up drinking.

Though Mumbai has around 200 such groups, few know of their existence, said a member.

Nicolette Stephens of the Al Anon Groups World Service Office in Virginia Beach was in Mumbai on Saturday. "At a rehabilitation centre in Guwahati, 80 per cent of alcoholics whose families get support recovered while only 30 per cent of alcoholics who are part of the programme alone recovered," she said.

Psychiatrist Ashish Deshpande said: "We have six crore whisky drinkers while US has four crore. Considering one's drinking affects four to five in the family, we need to provide much more support."

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