Midtown Bethesda

Types of AA Meetings

Birthday: In AA, birthdays refer to the last day (or the day after) that a member used alcohol or drugs. Birthday anniversaries are celebrated as milestones to encourage sobriety.

Newcomer: AA newcomer meetings in Maryland give members a chance to share the AA recovery model with people who want help for alcohol addiction but aren’t familar with the 12 step program. Participants are encouraged to ask questions and may receive an overview of Steps 1, 2, and 3.

Open: In Maryland, anyone in the community can attend open AA meetings. This includes individuals seeking treatment for alcohol use disorder and nonalcoholics who want to understand more about the program. Family, relatives, and loved ones of alcoholics can attend AA meetings to learn about addiction and what to expect as their loved one recovers.

Speaker: Speakers are often part of an AA program to motivate audiences to harden their resolve against alcohol. In Maryland, speakers tend to use a mixture of humor, faith, charm, and raw emotions.