AA Meetings

Recovering Alcoholics Support Group

For many recovering drug addicts and alcoholics, joining an AA group and attending AA meetings play a key role in achieving and maintaining sobriety. If you’ve ever been to an NA or AA meeting, you have probably heard the common slogans, what to do or not to do, and metaphors that come with the territory. However, one thing holds true for recovering addicts: these meetings are important for the recovery and healing process.

If you are an alcoholic or addict and make the decision to try AA or NA, it’s essential to understand the importance of meetings. Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and other 12-step programs are groups of people who desire to be sober, and most importantly, help each other. These types of programs would not exist without a community of people supporting and helping each other.

To ease any anxiety at the idea of attending an AA or NA meeting, it is important to know these groups are welcoming and non-judgmental; the purpose of these meetings is to encourage and support one another’s recovery efforts. The only official requirement of the program is the desire to stop drinking or abusing substances.

What You Might Get Out of 12-Step Meetings

AA meetings are meant to provide a secure, available and stable environment for recovering addicts to continue working on recovery. These groups offer a support system with stories of hope and reminds the attendants of the importance a recovery program plays in becoming and remaining sober. Addiction support groups have a specific purpose: assist recovering addicts in working on their recovery in a safe and nonjudgmental environment. It’s a starting place for regaining hope and a sense of purpose.

Here are some reasons you might find attending meetings beneficial to your sobriety:

Shared experiences, strength and hope.

In support groups, there’s a collective strength in being a community of like-minded individuals all pursuing the same goal of sobriety and willing to help others who desire a sober life as well. Here you can share experiences without the fear of judgement, as well as provide encouragement and support to fellow group members.

Help in times of need.

The beginning stages of drug and/or alcohol recovery can be a fragile time. The urge to relapse can surface at any time. When that happens, having the help of others who’ve been down the same road is so important and helpful. In AA or NA groups, there are people who will hold you accountable to your commitment to sobriety and continue to encourage you to refrain and overcome early recovery mishaps. Even if you have remained clean and sober for a long time, hearing stories of others who are new to the program or have relapsed, serve as real-life reminders of the consequences of relapsing. It’s important not to forget that addiction is a chronic disease, so you need to continue taking steps to maintain your health even if you feel strong.

A safe place to listen and learn.

There’s no other place that provides so many real-life tips and techniques for what works and what doesn’t in the sobriety journey? It goes without saying that not every strategy works for everyone, but there is always something to gain by listening to others, with similar struggles, share their successes and setbacks during their recovery from drug or alcohol addiction.

No judgment.

One thing you should NOT find in a support group meeting is any form of judgment; it’s simply not part of the philosophy. The focus should be on honesty, mutual support, and a sincere desire to help others struggling with sobriety to establish a firm foundation of recovery. If you don’t find this environment from the beginning, it’s important to try different meetings until you one that’s right for you.

Meetings are free and available almost everywhere.

This website will help you find the closest AA meeting location near you, or if there is not one, you have the option to sign up for an online group.