Find a Recovery Meeting

How to find a 12-step meeting or other recovery support group, wherever you are.

 >> Until you find a meeting — stay focused on recovery!
Get 3 free chapters of The Recovery Book — at Amazon. 
Get 4 free chapters of My Life in Recovery <<

In-Person Meetings

Start at the pages listed below and drill down to find resources near you. Some list meetings around the world, others link to local listings; some also have phone lines dedicated to meeting information. Some sites are also available in Spanish, French, and other languages.

• Alcoholics Anonymous: http://www.aa.org/lang/en/central_offices.cfm?origpage=373
• AA outside the U.S.: http://www.aa.org/lang/en/aa_international.cfm?origpage=31
• Al-Anon: https://al-anon.org/al-anon-meetings/
• Cocaine Anonymous: http://www.ca-online.org/meetings/
• Crystal Meth Anonymous: https://www.crystalmeth.org/
• Marijuana Anonymous: http://www.marijuana-anonymous.org/meetings/in-person
• Narcotics Anonymous: http://www.na.org/meetingsearch/
• Search online for your town and Alcoholics Anonymous (or Narcotics Anonymous, etc.). Many local groups list meetings online. If you don’t have a computer, try a library. Most have computers you can use for free.
• Ask friends for groups near you. Chances are you know someone in AA or Al-Anon. If not, some in your circle of friends probably do. Due to the anonymous nature of the group, it is not cool to pass around the names of folks in the fellowship, but your friends can ask for information on your behalf, or pass your number on to someone who is a member.
• Check a print phone directory for a local Alcoholics Anonymous number or other fellowships (libraries still carry phone books.) If you don’t find a number for a local fellowship, look for “addiction services,” “mental health resources,” or a city or county health agency. The people there can often refer you to local AA groups.
• Call a local treatment center, or ask a librarian.

Online and Phone Meetings

If you can get to in-person meetings, they are usually your best option. There is no substitute for sharing in person with others, talking one-on-one with other alcoholics. There’s nothing like having a cup of coffee after the meeting with someone who will listen and give you guidance, or sharing a laugh and a hug with a new friend who truly understands where you’ve been.

Of course, an in-person meeting is not always convenient or available just when you need it. When that’s the case, a phone or online meeting or discussion forum might help. These options can also be helpful for those who have hearing problems or mobility issues, have no child care, or live far away from in-person meetings. They can also be a lifesaver on those nights when you wake up at 3 am with a craving and no one to talk to. They are also a great way to test the waters.

• InTheRooms.com has online meetings at almost every hour of the day.
• Alcoholics Anonymous online meetings (and other formats, including email, texting, online chat, audio, phone, and video chat): http://aa-intergroup.org. That site also lists meetings in several languages as well as some for women only, men only, LGBT folks, and other communities.
• Narcotics Anonymous online and phone meetings: http://www.na.org/meetingsearch/ (enter web or phone in the country field).
• Cocaine Anonymous online meetings: http://www.ca-online.org/meetings/.
• Marijuana Anonymous online meetings: http://www.ma-online.org.
• SoberRecovery.com has very active discussion boards.

  Don’t forget!  >> Until you can get to a meeting — stay focused on recovery!
Get 3 free chapters of The Recovery Book — Amazon. <<