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AA Mississippi represents AA’s service Area 37 and has about 200 AA groups that meet in more than 100 cities and towns throughout the state. So, it’s easy to find an AA meeting in Mississippi. AA is a worldwide fellowship with a mission to provide a place where alcoholics share their experiences and support one another in recovery.
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Calls are forwarded to these paid advertisersFind Mississippi AA Meetings Serving These Cities
- Aberdeen
- Ackerman
- Amory
- Bailey
- Batesville
- Bay St. Louis
- Bentonia
- Biloxi
- Booneville
- Brandon
- Brookhaven
- Bruce
- Byram
- Caledonia
- Canton
- Carthage
- Charleston
- Cleveland
- Clinton
- Coldwater
- Columbia
- Columbus
- Como
- Corinth
- Crenshaw
- Crystal Springs
- Desoto County
- Diamondhead
- Edwards
- Eupora
- Florence
- Forest
- Fulton
- Gautier
- Greenville
- Greenwood
- Grenada
- Gulfport
- Hattiesburg
- Hazlehurst
- Hernando
- Holly Springs
- Horn Lake
- Houston
- Indianola
- Jackson
- Kiln
- Kosciusko
- Lambert
- Laurel
- Leakesville
- Leland
- Lexington
- Long Beach
- Louisville
- Lucedale
- Lumberton
- Madison
- Mathiston
- McComb
- Meadville
- Meridian
- Morton
- Natchez
- New Albany
- Ocean Springs
- Olive Branch
- Oxford
- Pascagoula
- Pass Christian
- Pearl
- Pelahatchie
- Philadelphia
- Picayune
- Pontotoc
- Poplarville
- Quitman
- Richland
- Ridgeland
- Rolling Fork
- Ruleville
- Saltillo
- Senatobia
- Southaven
- Southhaven
- Starkville
- Summit
- Terry
- Tupelo
- Tylertown
- Vaiden
- Vicksburg
- Water Valley
- West Point
- Wiggins
- Winona
- Yazoo City
Expert Insights
In 2023, Mississippi was one of 15 states to receive a $1 million Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) planning grant from SAMHSA to set up CCBHCs and provide a comprehensive range of mental health and substance use disorder services to individuals receiving Medicaid. Services include crisis services, screening, assessment, and outpatient mental health and substance abuse services, all coordinated, and available under one roof. A 2022 outcomes study showed a 72% reduction in hospitalization, a 40.7% reduction in homelessness, and 60.3% less time in jail for patients receiving CCBHC services.CCBHCs are an excellent idea and should be proliferated nationwide.
Alcoholism Statistics in Mississippi
Prevalence of alcohol use in Mississippi
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1,950 Mississippians died from excessive alcohol consumption during the 2020-2021 reporting period.The five-year per capita death rate (last reported for 2015-2019) rose by more than 44% over the previous period. About 72% of alcohol-related deaths in Mississippi occur in males.
Binge drinking and acute alcohol deaths in Mississippi
Mississippi’s under-age-21 drinking rate is higher than average, at 3.94%, and Mississippian’s consumption of alcohol during binge drinking is also higher, with the heaviest drinkers binging on more than 9 drinks per episode. These factors contribute to Mississippi having a higher-than-average number of alcohol-related deaths associated with acute circumstances, such as alcohol poisoning, suicide, or accidents, rather than from long-term drinking habits.
Cost of excessive alcohol use in Mississippi
The financial cost of excessive alcohol use to taxpayers in Mississippi in 2022 was about $3 billion. Mississippians also pay a high societal cost for their excessive drinking habits. The percentage of fatal auto accidents involving youth ages 15-20 is around 14%, and alcohol is often involved.
Popular Types of AA Meetings in Mississippi
There are many different types of AA meetings available in Mississippi. Popular meetings include Open Meetings, Closed Meetings, 12-Step Meetings and Big Book Study Meetings. On the Mississippi AA website, you can easily find in-person AA meetings scheduled in Area 37 districts.
Open Meetings
Open AA meetings are available to everyone. You don’t have to be an AA member to attend. Friends and family of AA members and other supporters can join open meetings. Speaker presentations at AA meetings are usually scheduled at open meetings.
Closed Meetings
Closed AA meetings are for members only; they aren’t open to the public. AA members often choose closed meetings because it is easier to develop friendships and find potential sponsors. Many times, AA members will make a certain meeting their “home group,” and they will regularly attend meetings there. Other AA members choose to attend closed meetings because the ability to maintain anonymity is greater than at open meetings.
Big Book Study Meetings
Big Book Study Meetings focus on reading and studying the information contained in the book Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered from Alcoholism, which is often referred to as the “Big Book.” A typical Big Book meeting starts with AA members reading aloud from the book. Then they discuss passages and share insights and personal experiences related to the information they read.
12-Step Meetings
12-Step Meetings are designed to help AA members learn about and practice the 12 Steps, the core principles of the AA philosophy. Typically, group members read a selection from the book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, that describes each of the steps in order. Experiences and personal insights related to the reading are then shared. Newcomers to AA often seek assistance from a mentor, or sponsor, who helps them “work” their steps.
Online AA Meetings in Mississippi
Online AA meetings became more popular during the pandemic, because in-person meetings had ceased, and online meetings were the only choice to obtain the fellowship and support that AA members value. Some people attend both in-person as well as online meetings because they can always find a meeting at a day and time that suits their schedule. Others prefer to communicate online because they feel more comfortable being at home. Online meetings often use Zoom as their dedicated platform. But online meetings are sometimes available via phone, or in an internet chat room. The AA Intergroup website lists online AA meetings that can be accessed by Zoom or phone. The meeting schedule is updated daily.
Resources for Alcohol Addiction in Mississippi
Below are some resources for alcohol abuse information and treatment in Mississippi.
Alcohol Policy Information System
The Alcohol Policy Information System, a project of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and the National Institute of Health (NIH), offers succinct outlines of various alcohol policies that would be of interest to adult alcohol users as well as underage users. The link https://alcoholpolicy.niaaa.nih.gov/underage-drinking/state-profiles/mississippi/76 outlines policies that specifically govern underage drinking in Mississippi, including policies about providing alcohol to minors, the use of false IDs by minors, and loss of driving privileges for underage minors who drink while driving.
SAMHSA Behavioral Health Barometer Mississippi
SAMHSA’s Behavioral Health Barometer Mississippi report on behavioral health and alcohol use in Mississippi includes details regarding the prevalence of underage drinking and binge drinking in Mississippi, and the effects on mental health, including the prevalence of suicidal ideation.
Resources
- National Council for Mental Wellbeing. (2022). CCBHC Impact Report https://www.thenationalcouncil.org/program/ccbhc-success-center/ccbhc-overview/
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (updated 2024). State Fact Sheets: Addressing Excessive Alcohol Use. https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/states/excessive-alcohol-use-united-states.html#theNumbers
- Drug Abuse Statistics.org (2023). Mississippi Alcohol Abuse Statistics https://drugabusestatistics.org/alcohol-abuse-statistics/
- SAMHSA.gov (2021). 2021 State Reports-Underage Drinking Prevention and Law Enforcement. Mississippi Profile.pd
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (nd). Underage Drinking Mississippi. Retrieved on 3/22/24 from: https://alcoholpolicy.niaaa.nih.gov/underage-drinking/state-profiles/mississippi/76.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Behavioral Health Barometer: Mississippi, Volume 6 (2020).https://www.samhsa.gov › reports › rpt32841