EYE OPENER

Types of AA Meetings

11th Step Meditation: 11th Step Meditation is a spiritual-based stage in which members individually and collectively pray for greater strength to correct weaknesses and to make amends for injuries inflicted on others due to alcohol use disorder.

Big Book: New York AA programs often use the Big Book as a centerpiece in discussions. This book contains dozens of real stories about people who successfully managed their alcohol use disorder.

Closed: Closed AA meetings in New York are not open to public community members who want to observe the discussion. The only people who can attend are AA members and people seeking help for alcohol addiction. The discussions are informal and everyone can share.

Discussion: AA discussion meetings in New York give all members the opportunity to speak on a specific topic related to alcoholism and recovery. Leaders typically find these topics in AA texts, such as Daily Reflections. They will share first, and then others are welcome to contribute to the conversation.

Meditation: Meditation AA meetings feature physical and emotional calmness as a main method of healing. The meetings open with 15 minutes of private mediation and close with an additional 5 minutes of meditation.

Men: Men in New York can participate in AA meetings to recover from alcohol use disorder. Select AA groups are intended for men only and provide 12 Step Programs designed around health and recovery issues for men of all ages at no cost.

Newcomer: In New York, AA newcomer meetings offer an opportunity for people who are new to AA to learn more about the program as they begin their sobriety journey. Experienced members normally lead the meetings, which may include group discussions or follow a more structured lesson format.

Step Meeting: In New York, AA centers use step meetings to enhance members’ recovery. Groups read and incorporate excerpts from AA texts into their own stage of the 12 Step Program. The group makes plans for greater progress by their next meeting.

Women: New York women’s AA meetings are support group meetings for women who are affected by alcohol addiction. Cost-free and open to all women in the community, including women who are addicted to alcohol and those who have loved ones with alcoholism, these meetings offer peer support within a 12-step recovery program.