Life-changing support is available through AA meetings in California. When you find AA meetings, you can find fellowship, resources, and a path to recovery.
Wherever you are in the Golden State, AA support is nearby. You’ll find 3,000 AA meetings in the Los Angeles area alone. With in-person and online options, AA meetings are readily accessible throughout the state.
AA has already helped more than two million people stop drinking.1 Whether you’re looking for support for a loved one or for yourself, AA meetings in California could provide the help you need to take that next crucial step.
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Find California AA Meetings Serving These Cities
- Acton
- Adelanto
- Adin
- Agoura Hills
- Agua Dulce
- Ahwahnee
- Alameda
- Alamo
- Alhambra
- Aliso Viejo
- Alpine
- Alpine Meadows
- Altadena
- Alturas
- Amador County
- American Canyon
- Anaheim
- Anderson
- Angels Camp
- Annapolis
- Antelope
- Antioch
- Anza
- Apple Valley
- Applegate
- Aptos
- Arcadia
- Arcata
- Arnold
- Aromas
- Arroyo Grande
- Artesia
- Atascadero
- Atherton
- Atwater
- Auberry
- Auburn
- Avalon
- Avenal
- Avery
- Avila Beach
- Azusa
- Bakersfield
- Baldwin Park
- Banning
- Barstow
- Bass Lake
- Bay Point
- Baywood-Los Osos
- Beaumont
- Bell
- Bell Gardens
- Bellflower
- Belmont
- Ben Lomond
- Benicia
- Benton
- Berkeley
- Bermuda Dunes
- Bethel Island
- Beverly Hills
- Bieber
- Big Bear
- Big Bear Lake
- Big Pine
- Big Sur
- Biggs
- Biola
- Bishop
- Blairsden
- Bloomington
- Blythe
- Bodega Bay
- Bolinas
- Bonita
- Boron
- Borrego Springs
- Boulder Creek
- Boulevard
- Brawley
- Brea
- Brentwood
- Bridgeport
- Brisbane
- Buena Park
- Burbank
- Burlingame
- Burney
- Burnt Ranch
- Butte County
- Byron
- Calabasas
- California City
- Calimesa
- Calistoga
- Camarillo
- Cambria
- Cameron Park
- Camino
- Camp Pendleton North
- Camp Pendleton South
- Campbell
- Canoga Park
- Capitola
- Carlsbad
- Carmel
- Carmel Valley
- Carmel-by-the-Sea
- Carmichael
- Carpinteria
- Carson
- Castaic
- Castro Valley
- Cathedral City
- Cayucos
- Cazadero
- Ceres
- Chatsworth
- Chester
- Chicago-North
- Chico
- Chino
- Chowchilla
- Chula Vista
- Citrus Heights
- City of Industry
- Claremont
- Clarksburg
- Clayton
- Clearlake
- Clearlake Oaks
- Cloverdale
- Clovis
- Coachella
- Coalinga
- Coarsegold
- Cobb
- Colfax
- Coloma
- Colton
- Colusa
- Comptche
- Compton
- Concord
- Cool
- Copperopolis
- Corning
- Corona
- Coronado
- Corral de Tierra
- Corte Madera
- Costa Mesa
- Cotati
- Cottonwood
- Coulterville
- Covelo
- Covina
- Crenshaw
- Crescent City
- Crestline
- Creston
- Crockett
- Culver City
- Cupertino
- Cypress
- Dana Point
- Danville
- Davenport
- Davis
- Del Mar
- Delano
- Delhi
- Descanso
- Desert Center
- Desert Hot Springs
- Diamond Bar
- Diamond Springs
- Dinuba
- Discovery Bay
- Dixon
- Dos Palos
- Downey
- Downieville
- Doyle
- Duarte
- Dublin
- Dulzura
- Dunsmuir
- Durham
- Eagle Rock
- Earlimart
- East Los Angeles
- Echo Park
- El Cajon
- El Centro
- El Cerrito
- El Dorado
- El Dorado Hills
- El Monte
- El Segundo
- El Sobrante
- Elk Grove
- Encinitas
- Encino
- Escalon
- Escondido
- Esparto
- Eureka
- Exeter
- Fair Oaks
- Fairfax
- Fairfield
- Fallbrook
- Farmersville
- Fawnskin
- Felton
- Ferndale
- Fiddletown
- Fillmore
- Firebaugh
- Folsom
- Fontana
- Foresthill
- Forestville
- Fort Bragg
- Fort Irwin
- Fort Jones
- Fortuna
- Foster City
- Fountain Valley
- Fowler
- Frazier Park
- Fremont
- Fresno
- Fullerton
- Fulton
- Galt
- Garberville
- Garden Grove
- Garden Valley
- Gardena
- Gasquet
- Georgetown
- Geyserville
- Gilroy
- Glen Ellen
- Glendale
- Glendora
- Goleta
- Graeagle
- Granada Hills
- Granite Bay
- Grass Valley
- Greenville
- Gridley
- Groveland
- Grover Beach
- Guadalupe
- Gualala
- Guerneville
- Gustine
- Hacienda Heights
- Half Moon Bay
- Hanford
- Hawaiian Gardens
- Hawthorne
- Hayfork
- Hayward
- Healdsburg
- Helendale
- Hemet
- Herald
- Hermosa Beach
- Hesperia
- Highland
- Highland Park
- Hillsborough
- Hollister
- Hollywood
- Homeland
- Hoopa
- Hornbrook
- Hughson
- Huntington Beach
- Huntington Park
- Huron
- Hydesville
- Idyllwild-Pine Cove
- Imperial Beach
- Indio
- Inglewood
- Inverness
- Inyokern
- Ione
- Irvine
- Jackson
- Jacumba Hot Springs
- Jamestown
- Jamul
- Janesville
- Jenner
- Joshua Tree
- Julian
- June Lake
- Kelseyville
- Kensington
- Kenwood
- Kerman
- Kern County
- Kernville
- Kettleman City
- King City
- Kings Beach
- Kingsburg
- Knights Ferry
- Koreatown
- La Cañada Flintridge
- La Crescenta
- La Crescenta-Montrose
- La Grange
- La Habra
- La Mesa
- La Mirada
- La Puente
- La Quinta
- La Selva Beach
- La Verne
- Lafayette
- Laguna Beach
- Laguna Hills
- Laguna Niguel
- Laguna Woods
- Lake Arrowhead
- Lake County
- Lake Elsinore
- Lake Forest
- Lake Hughes
- Lake Isabella
- Lakeport
- Lakeside
- Lakewood
- Lancaster
- Landers
- Larkspur
- Lathrop
- Lawndale
- Laytonville
- Lee Vining
- Lemon Grove
- Lemoore
- Lewiston
- Lincoln
- Lincoln Heights
- Lindsay
- Littlerock
- Livermore
- Livingston
- Lockeford
- Lodi
- Loma Linda
- Lomita
- Lompoc
- Lone Pine
- Long Beach
- Loomis
- Los Alamitos
- Los Alamos
- Los Altos
- Los Altos Hills
- Los Angeles
- Los Banos
- Los Gatos
- Los Molinos
- Los Osos
- Lower Lake
- Loyalton
- Lucerne Valley
- Lynwood
- Lytle Creek
- Mad River
- Madera
- Magalia
- Malibu
- Mammoth Lakes
- Manchester
- Manhattan Beach
- Manteca
- Mar Vista
- March Air Reserve Base
- Marina
- Marina del Rey
- Mariposa
- Markleeville
- Martinez
- Marysville
- Maywood
- McArthur
- McKinleyville
- Meadow Vista
- Mendocino
- Mendocino County
- Mendota
- Menifee
- Menlo Park
- Mentone
- Merced
- Middletown
- Midway City
- Mill Valley
- Millbrae
- Milpitas
- Miranda
- Mission Viejo
- Modesto
- Mojave
- Mokelumne Hill
- Monrovia
- Monte Rio
- Montebello
- Montecito
- Monterey
- Moorpark
- Morada
- Moraga
- Moreno Valley
- Morgan Hill
- Morongo Valley
- Morro Bay
- Moss Beach
- Moss Landing
- Mount Shasta
- Mountain Center
- Mountain Ranch
- Mountain View
- Mountainview
- Murphys
- Murrieta
- Napa
- Napa County
- National City
- Needles
- Nevada City
- Newark
- Newcastle
- Newhall
- Newman
- Newport Beach
- Niland
- Nipomo
- Norco
- North Fork
- North Hills
- North Hollywood
- North Orange County
- North Palm Springs
- North San Juan
- Northridge
- Norwalk
- Novato
- Oakdale
- Oakhurst
- Oakland
- Oakley
- Occidental
- Oceano
- Oceanside
- Ojai
- Ontario
- Orange
- Orange County
- Orange Cove
- Orangevale
- Orcutt
- Oregon House
- Orinda
- Orland
- Orleans
- Orosi
- Oroville
- Oxnard
- Pacific Grove
- Pacific Palisades
- Pacifica
- Pacoima
- Pala
- Palm Desert
- Palm Springs
- Palmdale
- Palo Alto
- Palo Cedro
- Palomar Mountain
- Palos Verdes Estates
- Paradise
- Paramount
- Parlier
- Pasadena
- Paso Robles
- Patterson
- Pauma Valley
- Pearblossom
- Penn Valley
- Penngrove
- Perris
- Pescadero
- Petaluma
- Phelan
- Pico Rivera
- Piedmont
- Piercy
- Pine Grove
- Pine Mountain Club
- Pine Valley
- Pinole
- Pinon Hills
- Pioneer
- Piru
- Pittsburg
- Placentia
- Placerville
- Pleasant Hill
- Pleasanton
- Plymouth
- Point Arena
- Point Reyes Station
- Pollock Pines
- Pomona
- Port Hueneme
- Porterville
- Portola
- Portola Valley
- Potter Valley
- Poway
- Prunedale
- Quartz Hill
- Quincy
- Rail Road Flat
- Ramona
- Rancho Cordova
- Rancho Cucamonga
- Rancho Mirage
- Rancho Murieta
- Rancho Palos Verdes
- Rancho Santa Fe
- Rancho Santa Margarita
- Red Bluff
- Redding
- Redlands
- Redondo Beach
- Redway
- Redwood City
- Redwood Valley
- Reedley
- Rescue
- Reseda
- Rialto
- Richmond
- Ridgecrest
- Rio Dell
- Rio Linda
- Rio Oso
- Rio Vista
- Ripon
- River Pines
- Riverbank
- Riverside
- Rocklin
- Rohnert Park
- Rolling Hills Estates
- Rosamond
- Rosemead
- Roseville
- Rossmoor
- Running Springs
- Sacramento
- Salida
- Salinas
- Salyer
- San Andreas
- San Anselmo
- San Bernardino
- San Bruno
- San Carlos
- San Clemente
- San Diego
- San Diego County
- San Dimas
- San Fernando
- San Fernando Valley
- San Francisco
- San Gabriel
- San Geronimo
- San Jacinto
- San Joaquin
- San Jose
- San Juan Bautista
- San Juan Capistrano
- San Leandro
- San Lorenzo
- San Luis Obispo
- San Marcos
- San Marino
- San Martin
- San Mateo
- San Miguel
- San Pablo
- San Pedro
- San Rafael
- San Ramon
- Sanger
- Santa Ana
- Santa Barbara
- Santa Clara
- Santa Clarita
- Santa Cruz
- Santa Cruz County
- Santa Fe Springs
- Santa Margarita
- Santa Maria
- Santa Monica
- Santa Paula
- Santa Rosa
- Santa Ynez
- Santa Ysabel
- Santee
- Saratoga
- Saugus
- Sausalito
- Scotts Valley
- Seal Beach
- Seaside
- Sebastopol
- Selma
- Shasta Lake
- Shaver Lake
- Sherman Oaks
- Shingle Springs
- Shingletown
- Sierra Madre
- Sierraville
- Signal Hill
- Silverado
- Simi Valley
- Sloughhouse
- Smith River
- Solana Beach
- Solvang
- Somerset
- Somis
- Sonoma
- Sonora
- Soquel
- Soulsbyville
- South Dos Palos
- South Gate
- South Lake Tahoe
- South Pasadena
- South San Francisco
- South Solano County
- Spring Valley
- Springville
- Squaw Valley
- St. Helena
- Stanford
- Stanton
- Stinson Beach
- Stockton
- Studio City
- Suisun City
- Summerland
- Sun Valley
- Sunnyvale
- Sunol
- Susanville
- Sutter Creek
- Sylmar
- Taft
- Tahoe City
- Tahoe Vista
- Tarzana
- Tehachapi
- Temecula
- Temple City
- Templeton
- Thermal
- Thousand Oaks
- Thousand Palms
- Three Rivers
- Tiburon
- Tollhouse
- Topanga
- Torrance
- Trabuco Canyon
- Tracy
- Tres Pinos
- Trinidad
- Trinity Center
- Truckee
- Tulare
- Tulare County
- Tuolumne
- Turlock
- Tustin
- Twain Harte
- Twentynine Palms
- Ukiah
- Union City
- Upland
- Vacaville
- Valencia
- Vallejo
- Valley Center
- Valley Springs
- Valley Village
- Van Nuys
- Venice
- Ventura
- Ventura City
- Ventura County
- Victorville
- Villa Park
- Visalia
- Vista
- Walnut
- Walnut Creek
- Walnut Park
- Warner Springs
- Waterford
- Watsonville
- Weaverville
- Weed
- Weldon
- West Covina
- West Hills
- West Hollywood
- West Menlo Park
- West Point
- West Sacramento
- Western Nevada County
- Westlake Village
- Westminster
- Westwood
- Wheatland
- Whiskeytown
- Whittier
- Wildomar
- Willits
- Willow Creek
- Willows
- Wilmington
- Winchester
- Windsor
- Winters
- Woodland
- Woodland Hills
- Wrightwood
- Yermo
- Yokuts Valley
- Yorba Linda
- Yosemite National Park
- Yosemite Ntpk
- Yountville
- Yreka
- Yuba City
- Yucaipa
- Yucca Valley
Expert Insight
Something needs to change. Nearly three million Californians experienced a substance use disorder in the past year. And the state sees the nation’s highest number of alcohol-related deaths throughout the country. Yet, if Californians seek residential rehab, they can expect to pay over $56,000, and the median income for California residents is just $39,812. For those without the means, there are free treatment programs, but only 71 programs throughout the expansive state offer free treatment for all clients. Surely there is something policymakers can do to make treatment more accessible to Californians who are in desperate need of support.
Alcoholism Statistics in California
The financial cost of excessive alcohol consumption in California totals more than $35,000,000,000 annually.6 Statewide, the cost in potential life lost per year due to excessive alcohol use is an average of 492,097 years.7 The emotional and mental costs generated from these statistics are immeasurable.
For the period 2020-2021, an average of 19,335 Californians died per year due to excessive alcohol use.7 Looking at other state statistics reveals the pattern of binge drinking and alcohol misuse that can lead to these tragic deaths.
- One in five California adults report binge drinking in the past 30 days.8
- California adults who binge drink do so an average of 3.7 times per month.8
- 16.6% of California adults binge drink at least once per month.4
- 6.3% of Californians aged 12 and older experienced an alcohol use disorder in the past year.5
Popular Types of AA Meetings in California
No two AA meetings in California look exactly alike. This is largely due to the diversity of its members; however, it is also due to the variety of formats available. In California, you’ll find AA meetings that vary from open to closed, and from topical to speaker. Some of the most common types of AA meetings in California include:
Open/Closed Meetings
Open meetings welcome anyone in the community to attend. This may include individuals who want to learn about the AA program, those who are struggling with alcohol abuse, and the loved ones of individuals who have an alcohol use disorder.
Closed meetings are limited to AA members. Only those who are seeking to stop drinking are invited to attend.
Big Book Meeting
These meetings focus on the reading and discussion of material from the “Big Book”. This book includes the history of AA, information on methods of support, and the 12 Steps and traditions.
Speaker Meetings
A speaker meeting gives attendees the opportunity to hear someone else’s story. The speaker is someone who has overcome alcohol addiction and wants to pass along insight and encouragement based on their first-hand experience. Typically, these meetings are open.
Discussion Meetings
These meetings may be open or closed. They involve discussion of a specific topic, which may or may not revolve around alcohol abuse. Topics cover a broad range, to encourage members to consider various issues and think about their situations from a new perspective.
Online AA Meetings in California
For those who may find it challenging to attend in-person meetings, online AA meetings in California offer an accessible option. These meetings are held on various platforms such as dial-in conference calling or Zoom. They remove barriers related to transportation issues and physical limitations that might otherwise prevent individuals from attending a meeting. They also provide location and scheduling flexibility because they can be accessed from anywhere.
Resources for Alcohol Addiction
Residents of California can reach out to the following organizations for additional support for alcohol use disorder.
Department of Health Care Services
The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) offers a non-emergency substance use disorder treatment referral line. Anyone who is seeking treatment services in California can call 800-879-2772. Services are available in English and Spanish. Callers will be connected to local resources and services.
California Association of Alcohol and Drug Program Executives (CAADPE)
This organization advocates for quality substance use disorder treatment programs and works to make these services accessible to anyone who needs help. CAADPE member agencies offer treatment services at over 300 locations in California. The CAADPE website offers information about alcohol addiction treatment and a directory of service providers.
211 California
211 is a nationwide helpline that connects callers to live expert support. Calls are confidential and free. Residents of California can call 211 or text their zip code to 898211. The 211CA website also offers additional local resources.
Sources
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- Stilkind, J. (n.d.). Average cost of drug rehab [2023]: By type, state & more. NCDAS. Retrieved March 12, 2024, from https://drugabusestatistics.org/cost-of-rehab/
- Place rankings. (n.d.). Data Commons. Retrieved March 12, 2024, from https://datacommons.org/ranking/Median_Income_Person/State/country/USA?h=geoId%2F06&unit=%24
- Hanson, M. (2021, March 7). Alcohol abuse statistics [2023]: National + state data. NCDAS. https://drugabusestatistics.org/alcohol-abuse-statistics/#california
- Foundation, C. H. C. (2022). Substance use in California, 2022: Prevalence and treatment.
- Data on excessive drinking. (2024, February 22). CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/data-stats.htm
- California Department of Public Health. (n.d.). Deaths from Excessive Alcohol Use. Retrieved March 12, 2024, from https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/sapb/CDPH%20Document%20Library/Deaths_from_Excessive_Alcohol_Use_in_California_2020_2021.pdf
- (BRFSS), C. B. R. F. S. S. (n.d.). Excess alcohol use among California adults, 2015-2020-CA BRFSS snapshot – Issue 9, May 2023.