What You Need to Know About 12-Step Meetings

Do you (or a friend) need a support group to help with struggles related to substance abuse? A 12-step meeting may be the perfect answer!

The term “12-step meeting” refers to a group of people from the community (peers, not professionals) who meet together to support one another as each person recovers from addictions. The similarity among all 12-step groups is that they follow the 12-step model of recovery which was first established by Alcoholics Anonymous®.

You may be wondering how a 12-step program works. Look over this quick list to find answers to your questions:

  • What kinds of 12-step meetings are there?
    The 12-step meetings for individuals who want support for their own issues include Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Cocaine Anonymous (CA), and Overeaters Anonymous (OA).
  • What about a 12-step meeting that incorporates my Christian faith?
    Celebrate Recovery (CR) is a Christian faith-based group for individuals struggling with any kind of addiction or habit.
  • Are there special meetings for me if the addiction is not mine?
    Yes. There are also 12-step meetings for family and friends of those with addiction: Al-Anon for family and friends of people with alcohol addiction, and Alateen which is the same but specifically for teenagers. Also, Nar-Anon is for the family and friends of those with drug addictions.
  • Where do the meetings take place?
    As they are run by peers, meetings usually take place in churches and community centers.
  • What happens in a meeting?
    It depends on the kind of meeting: some meetings have speakers about a designated topic, some meetings are for discussion, and other meetings are for the purpose of studying the 12-steps.
  • Will I have to speak?
    No! No one is required to speak if they are not ready or don’t feel comfortable speaking in front of others.
  • Where do I start?
    Start with an open meeting. This means the meeting is open to anyone interested in learning about the steps and recovery from addiction.
  • What if I don’t “click” with the people of the group?
    Simply try another one! Each 12-step group has its own personality and feel to it.  If it doesn’t suit you, keep trying. Find one that’s a good fit for you.
  • What if I run into someone I know?
    Part of the “anonymous” pact means that everyone there agrees to keep each other’s identities confidential.
  • Are 12-step meetings necessary for recovery?
    No, but they certainly can help. Social support is necessary for recovery and 12-step meetings are a great place to find that.
  • Where are meetings close to me?
    Follow the links below to find meetings close to you.

Alcoholics Anonymous: http://www.aanashville.org/cgi-bin/meetingdb/mtgsearch.cgi?button=Reset&interface=Advanced

Narcotics Anonymous: https://www.na.org/meetingsearch/

Cocaine Anonymous: http://www.tennca.com/content/Meetings.html

Celebrate Recovery: http://locator.crgroups.info/

Al-Anon and Alateen: http://al-anon.org/al-anon-meetings/find-an-al-anon-meeting/

Nar-Anon: http://www.nar-anon.org/find-a-meeting