Find AA Meetings in Providence, Rhode Island

Providence, Rhode Island AA Meetings

Providence has 34 in-person AA groups meeting at 21 locations, offering a total of 56 meetings every week. You’ll also find 11 online groups offering about 30 sessions. For a city this size the online options are abundant, making attending from home a realistic option.

The list above shows current schedules. You can filter it by day, time and format to find a meeting that fits your needs and schedule.

Providence is one of the most open AA communities in our directory. Of the local groups that state a preference, more than 40 are open meetings, and only three are closed.

Open meetings welcome anyone, including people still deciding whether they have a substance use problem and family members who want to understand the program. That means almost nothing here is off limits to a first-time visitor. Discussion is the dominant meeting format, with step study and literature meetings also common.

Providence also has five LGBTQ+ meetings, which is a high number for a city of this size.

Here’s a snapshot of meeting types in our Providence directory, including both in-person and online groups (as of July 2026):

• LGBTQ+: 5
• Spanish-speaking: 4
• Women’s: 3
• Men’s: 3
• Young people: 3

Only four groups are currently tagged wheelchair-accessible. But this most likely understates what is actually available. Some venues may be accessible, but the meeting simply isn’t tagged that way. Rhode Island Central Service runs an accessibilities committee and publishes guidance for groups on accessibility, so that’s a better place to ask about a specific venue.

These counts change as groups update their schedules, so consider this list an average, and use the listings above for current info.

Your First AA Meeting in Providence

To attend your first AA meeting in Providence, you don’t need to register, pay anything or call yourself an alcoholic. Just arrive a few minutes early, find a seat and listen. You won’t be required to speak.

Because the local schedule is almost entirely open meetings, picking a first one is simpler in Providence than in most cities. An open discussion meeting is a good place to start, and discussion formats account for the large majority of meetings here. You can sit in, hear how people talk about their drinking and leave without having said a word.

What happens at a first AA meeting walks you through a typical meeting, and our overview of the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions explains the main ideas of the program.

Providence’s AA Central Service and 24-Hour Helpline

AA in Providence is served by Rhode Island Central Service, based just across the river in East Providence. Its office is open on weekdays. Outside those hours, calls are picked up by a 24-hour answering service, so callers can reach a person any time day or night.

Central Service keeps a confidential list of local AA members willing to take 12-step calls, and when someone rings for help the office arranges for a member near them to call back. It also stocks literature and publishes updated meeting schedules a few times a year. Plus, it maintains meeting lists for neighboring Massachusetts and Connecticut, which is useful given how close Providence sits to both.

Rhode Island also has a Spanish-language AA service structure, Oficina Intergrupal Hispana, with its own section on the Central Service website. That link is under Resources.

The address, phone number, and office hours are listed under Resources below.

Sober.com is an independent directory and is not affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous World Services or Rhode Island Central Service.

Staying on Track Between Meetings

Many people find it helpful to access the free Sober App between meetings. It tracks your sober days and can help you develop healthy habits. These features can be a good reminder of all your hard work on days you don’t have a meeting.

If You Need More Help Than a Meeting

At AA meetings, you’ll get peer support but not medical care. If you’ve been drinking heavily, stopping suddenly can pose physical health risks. So, for your safety, it is worth getting a medical opinion before you quit on your own.

The alcohol withdrawal timeline and alcohol detox explain what withdrawal involves and when you should consider supervised care.

Rhode Island has an unusually direct route into care. BH Link is a statewide behavioral health crisis service supported by the state health department. The service takes calls, texts, and chats 24 hours a day for anyone 18 or older dealing with a substance use or mental health crisis.

It also runs a walk-in triage centre that is open around the clock, where clinicians connect people to immediate care and longer-term treatment. That center is on Waterman Avenue in East Providence, a few doors from the AA central service office. Rhode Island’s 988 call center operates from the same location. You can find more details under the Resources section.

You can also browse alcohol rehab programs by state in our rehab directory. FindTreatment.gov is also listed under Resources.

AA in Providence: Common Questions

How much do AA meetings in Providence cost?

Nothing. AA groups are self-supporting through voluntary contributions. A basket may be passed around, but no one is expected to give, especially someone coming to a meeting for the first time.

Do I have to call myself an alcoholic to attend?

No. AA states that the only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking, and you don’t even need that to sit in on an open meeting. Plenty of people attend for a while before they decide on next steps.

What is the difference between open and closed meetings in Providence?

Open meetings welcome anyone, including friends and family. Closed meetings are limited to people who want to stop drinking. Providence is overwhelmingly open, with only a handful of closed groups in our listings, so you’re very unlikely to turn up somewhere you cannot attend.

Are there LGBTQ+ AA meetings in Providence?

Yes. Five groups in our Providence listings are LGBTQ+ meetings, which is a strong showing for a city this size. Use the type filter above to see current days and times.

Are there Spanish-language AA meetings in Providence?

Yes. Several Spanish-speaking groups appear in our Providence listings. Rhode Island also has a Spanish-language AA service structure, Oficina Intergrupal Hispana, which is linked under Resources.

Can I join an AA meeting online from Providence?

Yes. Around 11 online AA groups are listed in Providence, offering around 30 sessions a week. This is a significant number of the local schedule and helps when getting out to a meeting is difficult.

Resources

• Rhode Island Central Service (Alcoholics Anonymous). Phone: (401) 438-8860, answered during office hours and by a 24-hour answering service outside those hours. Office: 1005 Waterman Avenue, East Providence, RI 02914; Monday through Friday 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Accessed September 1, 2026. https://rhodeisland-aa.org/
• Oficina Intergrupal Hispana A.A., Rhode Island. Spanish-language AA service information. Accessed September 1, 2026. https://rhodeisland-aa.org/oficina-intergrupal-hispana-a-a/
• BH Link. Statewide behavioral health crisis service for Rhode Islanders aged 18 and over: (401) 414-5465, available 24 hours a day by call, text, or chat. Walk-in triage center: 975 Waterman Avenue, East Providence, RI 02914, open 24 hours. Accessed September 1, 2026. https://www.bhlink.org/
• Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals. State agency overseeing substance use and mental health services. Accessed September 1, 2026. https://bhddh.ri.gov/
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. PLACES: Local Data for Better Health (2025 release). Accessed September 1, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/places/
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. FindTreatment.gov treatment locator. Accessed September 1, 2026. https://findtreatment.gov/
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Call or text 988 (24/7). https://988lifeline.org/