Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) is an international program focused on supporting people during alcohol recovery, with a goal of helping them achieve and sustain sobriety. Meetings cost nothing to attend and are available almost everywhere. AA has two types of meetings which offer different types of support and attendance.
- The strength of our program lies in the voluntary nature of membership in A.A.; however many of us first attended meetings because we were pressured to by someone else.
- There are two types of AA meetings – open or closed.
- Spirituality plays a significant role in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) by offering individuals a framework for recovery, irrespective of their religious beliefs.
- Many groups make it a practice to read aloud pertinent material from the Big Book or Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions at the beginning of the meeting.
- We welcome new members, but we do not recruit them.
Alcoholics Anonymous Family Groups
- Only people who have a drinking problem are eligible to join AA.
- ” you should check out the links to their websites below.
- However, AA has a significant presence in countries where alcohol addiction is widespread, and the organization has been established for many years.
- They emphasize anonymity, humility, and group cohesion, ensuring AA’s continued effectiveness and longevity in helping individuals with alcohol use disorder.
- Membership at the group level is open to all who have a desire to recover from alcoholism.
These meetings provide a deeper understanding of AA’s principles and can benefit individuals who resonate with the book’s teachings. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is 5 types of alcoholics a globally recognized support group that assists individuals struggling with alcohol addiction. We understand that you may be hesitant to attend an AA meeting.
What is The Success Rate of AA?
These programs not only provide coping skills, but also provide insights as to how best to support recovering alcoholics. AA programs were designed to support alcohol addiction and recovery, while NA helps individuals suffering from addictions to any substances, including street drugs, prescription drugs, or alcohol. Unlike AA, the NA approach tends to focus more on addictive behavior, rather than on the actual substance being abused. There are many types of meetings, including those specifically geared toward beginners and those featuring speakers, where one sober member shares their experience, strength and hope. Generally, however, our experience indicates that the best meeting to attend is the first one you can get to. Open meetings (O) are open to the general public, and are a good option if you want to bring a family member or friend for moral support although only alcoholics may share.
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Most meetings give out AA chips, either at the beginning or the end of the meeting. An AA chip is a coin which resembles a Mardi Gras doubloon. The coin is to commemorate time you have sober. The most important chip you will pick up is the 24 Hour or ‘A Desire to Stop Drinking Chip.’ If you want to stop drinking (or using drugs), you should pick up one of these and put it in your pocket. It symbolizes a commitment you’re making to stay sober for 24 hours. At discussion meetings, one member shares their experience, strength and hope briefly before opening the meeting for others to share.
12-step meetings are typically self-supported gatherings by its members, and therefore, are housed in churches or in buildings that are rented and called clubs. Additionally, 12-step meetings can take place in treatment centers, hospitals, and jail, or even in a backyard. The meetings are run by the members of the individual groups and usually run for an hour at a time. Before the meeting ends, three things will happen.
- By helping others to recover we stay sober ourselves.
- Most also share what actions they took to stop drinking and how they are living their lives today.
- In cities, a typical meeting might have ten to twenty members.
- For instance, a member may be going through a heartbreaking divorce or having a problem in their marriage or another romantic relationship.
- The book Alcoholics Anonymous describes the A.A.
Free and confidential AA Meetings.
This place is very cool not like other places at all. Your dignity and pride are intact and not stripped from you . We cannot predict who will recover, nor have we the authority to decide how recovery should be sought by any other alcoholic. Member serving as “leader” or “chair” opens the meeting using that group’s format, and selects a topic for discussion.
