If you’ve decided you want to stop drinking and are thinking of going to a support group to get help, you’re in luck--Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings can be found almost anywhere. Alcoholics Anonymous is an organization of people who want to share their experiences of alcoholism, and receive and offer support to other the members who are in sober recovery. To be a member, all you have to do is want to stop drinking. You don’t even have to pay dues to go to AA meetings. They pass a basket around for members to make donations at every meeting, but payment is not required.

There are two types of alcoholics anonymous meetings: open meetings and closed meetings.

Open AA Meetings

At open AA meetings people will share experiences. The open meetings will have speakers who will talk about how they drank and how AA has helped them. Family members and people who are interested in AA are welcome to attend open meetings.

Closed AA Meetings

Closed AA meetings are for alcoholic members only. At these meetings members may talk about personal problems, and any issues they are having with sobriety. AA members can get direct, personal help as they commit to staying sober day by day. Other members may talk about the problems they have encountered and often give strategies for how they have overcome them.

You Have to Want to Attend Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings

Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are not for people who are being forced into any sort of sobriety as an intervention. The AA organization is strictly for people who want to stop drinking and who make their own decision to attend meetings to get support for trying to get sober, and stay sober.

It is important to note that AA does not claim to be a medical organization. Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are not for people who need medical help to go through detox or early rehab, but the meetings can be a great supplement to that process. For people who want to stop drinking and are ready to get support in their recovery from alcoholism, AA is a great choice.

If you or someone you know is seeking help from addiction, please visit our directory of treatment centers or call 800-772-8219 to start the path to recovery today.