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You can easily find AA meetings in Alabama. Alabama is AA Area 1, and it includes all of Alabama plus northwest Florida. AA Area 1 contains 23 geographic districts plus one Spanish-speaking district. Each district holds numerous AA meetings in convenient locations. AA’s mission is to provide a place where alcoholics can share their experiences while supporting one another in recovery. In Alabama, you’ll find both in-person and online meetings available. You get to choose from general meetings, study group meetings, and even meetings specifically for beginners or those who are non-religious.
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Calls are forwarded to these paid advertisersFind Alabama AA Meetings Serving These Cities
- Alabaster
- Albertville
- Alexander City
- Andalusia
- Anniston
- Arab
- Athens
- Attalla
- Auburn
- Baldwin County
- Bay Minette
- Bessemer
- Birmingham
- Blountsville
- Bon Secour
- Calera
- Center Point
- Centre
- Chatom
- Chelsea
- Chickasaw
- Citronelle
- Clanton
- Columbiana
- Cullman
- Dadeville
- Daphne
- Dauphin Island
- Decatur
- Dothan
- Eva
- Fairhope
- Fayette
- Florence
- Foley
- Fort Payne
- Fultondale
- Gadsden
- Gardendale
- Grand Bay
- Greenville
- Gulf Shores
- Guntersville
- Haleyville
- Harpersville
- Hartselle
- Harvest
- Hazel Green
- Heflin
- Henagar
- Homewood
- Hoover
- Hope Hull
- Hueytown
- Huntsville
- Jackson
- Jacksonville
- Jasper
- Killen
- Lanett
- Leeds
- Lineville
- Madison
- Magnolia Springs
- McCalla
- Mentone
- Millbrook
- Mobile
- Monroeville
- Montgomery
- Moulton
- Mount Olive
- Mountain Brook
- Munford
- Muscle Shoals
- Oneonta
- Opelika
- Orange Beach
- Owens Cross Roads
- Oxford
- Pelham
- Pell City
- Phenix City
- Pinson
- Prattville
- Rainbow City
- Red Bay
- Robertsdale
- Rogersville
- Russellville
- Saraland
- Selma
- Sheffield
- Shorter
- Spanish Fort
- Springville
- Steele
- Summerdale
- Talladega
- Tallassee
- Theodore
- Thomasville
- Thorsby
- Trussville
- Tuscaloosa
- Tuskegee
- Vestavia Hills
- Warrior
- Wedowee
- Wetumpka
- Winfield
Expert Insights
In 2023, the Alabama legislature ruled that Alabama can now be one of the few states where food truck vendors can sell beverages made with hard liquor, in addition to the wine and beer sales already allowed, with certain restrictions.1 When there is less accountability for excessive alcohol use, as when people are drinking while “out and about,” the risk for harm increases. And because stricter policies regarding alcohol use have been proven effective in reducing alcohol-related deaths,2 making alcohol more available in difficult to monitor circumstances, such as via food truck sales, may be a step in the wrong direction.
Alcoholism Statistics in Alabama
Increased number of alcohol-related deaths in youth
Alabama’s yearly alcohol-related death toll rose steeply in the last measured 5-year period, from 2015 -2019, reaching a per capita rate of 44.8%. Alabama has the third-highest number of alcohol-related deaths in residents under the age of 21 in the United States. On average, just under 4% of Alabamans who die from excessive alcohol use are less than 21 years old.
Binge drinking in Alabama
According to theNational Center for Drug Abuse Statistics (NCDAS), 13.6% of Alabama adults over the age of 18 participate in binge drinking at least once per month, with most consuming about 5.5 drinks per episode, and heavier drinkers consuming more than 7 drinks per episode. Most binge drinking adults in Alabama binged roughly twice a month, but the 25% of heaviest drinkers binged 4 times per month.
Cost of excessive alcohol use
Excessive alcohol use in Alabama costs, on average, about $5 billion annually. Most of this cost (about 2/3 or more) results from lost workplace productivity. Health care-related costs, criminal justice expenses, and losses from motor vehicle accidents, many of which are attributable to binge drinking, account for the rest of the cost.
Popular Types of AA Meetings in Alabama
There are many different types of AA meetings that you can attend in Alabama, such as Open Meetings, Closed Meetings, Big Book Study Meetings, 12-Step-Meetings, Beginner’s Meetings, and Daily reflection meetings.The most popular meetings are the open and closed meetings, and the study-type meetings.
Open AA Meetings
Open AA meetings can be attended by the public. This means that not only those who are already AA members, but also their friends, family, and other supporters, are welcome to join a meeting. Sometimes guest speakers are highlighted at open meetings.
Closed AA Meetings
Closed AA meetings are ones that only AA members can attend. One advantage of closed meetings is the opportunity to develop closer ties with other members. Often AA members make a certain meeting their “home group”, and they regularly attend this same meeting. Another advantage to closed meetings is the greater potential for anonymity that they offer. 5
Big Book Study Meetings
In Big Book Study Meetings, members are studying the AA “Big Book,” or Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered from Alcoholism. Members typically read aloud from the Big Book, discuss passages, and share their personal experiences and insights related to the reading.6
12-Step Meetings
During 12-Step Meetings, AA members are learning to “work the steps.” The format typically involves the group reading aloud and then discussing each AA step, in order, using the book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions. Members may also share their experiences and insights. Often a mentor, or sponsor, will help a newcomer work their steps.
Online AA Meetings in Alabama
Online AA meetings grew substantially during the pandemic, because in-person meetings were closed. Today, online meetings are thriving even more. Some people like to attend both in-person meetings and online meetings because they can find a meeting any time, day, or night. Others like to socialize from a distance, through an online presence, because it is more comfortable for them than having in-person interactions.
Usually, online meetings take place over an internet platform such as Zoom. However, some are available via phone or an online chat forum.
Resources for Alcohol Addiction in Alabama
The state of Alabama offers many resources for alcohol abuse and treatment information.
Alabama Department of Mental Health
The Alabama Department of Mental Health regulates the state’s public substance abuse services. The department does not operate substance abuse programs themselves; instead, they contract with community agencies who offer these services. You can find links to inpatient and outpatient programs, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and women’s services on the Alabama Department of Mental Health website, at https://mh.alabama.gov/division-of-mental-health-substance-abuse-services/substance-abuse-treatment-services/.
University of Alabama at Birmingham Substance Abuse Program
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Substance Abuse Program is associated with the Heersinck School of Medicine. The program offers linkages to local resources, which can be found on the university website. You’ll find links to free information about addiction and recovery treatment in the Birmingham community, as well as a link to the Jefferson County Department of Health, where you can access free Naloxone kits. Go to the university’s substance abuse program website at https://www.uab.edu/medicine/substanceabuse/resources for more information.
Resources:
- Bradley Law Firm.com. (2023). 2023 Update on Alabama Alcohol Laws https://www.bradley.com/insights/publications/2023/08/2023-update-on-alabama-alcohol-laws
- NIH-National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (2023). Understanding How Alcohol Policies Impact Public Health https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/about-niaaa/directors-page/niaaa-directors-blog/understanding-how-alcohol-policies-impact-public-health
- National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics (NCDAS). (2023). Alabama Alcohol Abuse Statistics https://drugabusestatistics.org/alcohol-abuse-statistics/
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Alcohol and Public Health. (2022). Excessive Alcohol Deaths https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/features/excessive-alcohol-deaths.html
- Alabama Department of Mental Health (nd) Substance Abuse Treatment Services https://mh.alabama.gov/division-of-mental-health-substance-abuse-services/substance-abuse-treatment-services/
- University of Alabama at Birmingham Substance Abuse Program (2024). Substance Abuse Program – Resources https://www.uab.edu/medicine/substanceabuse/resources