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AA meetings in South Carolina, or Area 62, consists of about 400 groups that meet in 23 districts throughout the state, organized geographically and by population. So, you can easily find an AA meeting in South Carolina. The AA Fellowship exists to provide a place where alcoholics can share their experiences and support one another in recovery.
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Calls are forwarded to these paid advertisersFind South Carolina AA Meetings Serving These Cities
- Abbeville
- Aiken
- Allendale
- Anderson
- Batesburg-Leesville
- Beaufort
- Bennettsville
- Bishopville
- Bluffton
- Blythewood
- Branchville
- Camden
- Cayce
- Chapin
- Charleston
- Cheraw
- Chester
- Chesterfield
- Clemson
- Clinton
- Clover
- Columbia
- Conway
- Cordesville
- Darlington
- Dillon
- Easley
- Eastover
- Edgefield
- Edisto Island
- Elgin
- Florence
- Folly Beach
- Fort Lawn
- Fort Mill
- Fountain Inn
- Fripp Island
- Gaffney
- Garden City
- Georgetown
- Gilbert
- Goose Creek
- Greenville
- Greenwood
- Greer
- Hampton
- Hanahan
- Hardeeville
- Harleyville
- Hartsville
- Hemingway
- Hilton Head Island
- Hollywood
- Indian Land
- Inman
- Irmo
- Isle of Palms
- Johns Island
- Johnsonville
- Lancaster
- Landrum
- Laurens
- Lexington
- Little River
- Longs
- Loris
- Lugoff
- Lyman
- Manning
- Marion
- Mauldin
- McCormick
- Moncks Corner
- Moore
- Mount Pleasant
- Murrells Inlet
- Myrtle Beach
- Newberry
- North Augusta
- Norway
- Okatie
- Orangeburg
- Pageland
- Pawleys Island
- Pickens
- Piedmont
- Port Royal
- Powdersville
- Ridgeland
- Ridgeville
- Ridgeway
- Rock Hill
- Saint George
- Saint Helena Island
- Saint Matthews
- Salem
- Saluda
- Santee
- Seabrook
- Seneca
- Simpsonville
- Spartanburg
- Sullivan's Island
- Summerville
- Sumter
- Surfside Beach
- Taylors
- Tega Cay
- Travelers Rest
- Wadmalaw Island
- Wagener
- Walhalla
- Walterboro
- Ware Shoals
- Waterloo
- West Ashley
- Westminster
- Williston
- York
Expert Insights
In February 2024, a health researcher at Clemson University received a grant from the National Institutes of Health to expand a 2018 pilot project that showed promising results for helping individuals hospitalized with alcohol use disorder recover more quickly. The program pairs patients with a peer recovery coach while they are still hospitalized. The coach provides emotional and social support and helps link the patient to outside resources. Starting such a trusting and empathetic relationship at this crucial time in an alcoholic’s recovery is a significant source of motivation, and hopefully, this study will encourage more use of recovery coaches.
Alcoholism Statistics in South Carolina
Prevalence of alcohol use in South Carolina
With about 2,600 deaths per year, South Carolina experiences, per capita, more alcohol-related deaths than the U.S. state average, including more underage drinking deaths. About 3.2% of South Carolinians who are under the age of 21 die yearly from alcohol-related causes, and 71% of all South Carolina’s alcohol-related deaths occur in males.
Underage drinking in South Carolina
According to the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS),underage drinking is a serious health issue in South Carolina. More than 23% of students in grades nine through twelve reported having used alcohol during the previous month. Liquor is the drink of choice for most middle and high school students. Alarmingly, almost 18% of student drinkers started consuming alcohol before the age of thirteen, and almost 40% of student drinkers reported that someone else had given them their alcoholic drinks.
Cost of excessive alcohol use
The financial cost of excessive alcohol use to taxpayers in South Carolina in 2022 was more than $5 billion, or about $2.88 for each drink consumed.1 Underage drinking accounted for about $1 billion of the total alcohol-related costs–averaging about $2,300 for each young person living in South Carolina.
Popular Types of AA Meetings in South Carolina
There are many different types of AA meetings available to you in South Carolina. The most popular meetings are Open Meetings, Closed Meetings, Big Book Study Meetings, and 12-Step- Meetings.
Open Meetings
Open AA meetings are “open” to everyone. You do not have to be an AA member. Friends and family of AA members, as well as other supporters, often attend Open Meetings. Speakers are sometimes featured at Open AA meetings.
Closed Meetings
Closed AA meetings are for members only and are not open to the public. Many AA members like closed meetings because they can more easily develop friendships and find potential sponsors. Many AA members make a certain meeting their “home group,” and attend meetings regularly there. Some AA members prefer closed meetings because the ability to assure anonymity is greater when outsiders are not in attendance.
Big Book Study Meetings
Big Book Study Meetings are all about reading and studying the information contained in the book Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered from Alcoholism, often referred to as the “Big Book.” A typical Big Book meeting will start with AA members reading aloud from the book. Then they will discuss passages, and often share insights and personal experiences related to the material.
12-Step Meetings
12-Step Meetings are for AA members who are interested in learning about and practicing the 12 Steps, the core principles for successful recovery established by the AA founders. Typically, group members read a selection from the book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, that deals with each of the steps in order. Personal insights and experiences related to the reading are often shared. Often, those new to AA will seek assistance from a mentor, or sponsor, to help them “work” the steps.
Online AA Meetings in South Carolina
Online AA meetings gained popularity, starting in 2020, with the pandemic. In-person meetings had to cease, so online meetings were the only choice for maintaining the fellowship and support that AA members highly value. Some people like to attend both in-person and online meetings because it is easy to find a meeting that suits their varied schedules. Other people prefer to socialize via an online presence. They may feel more comfortable in their own surroundings. Online meetings often use the platform Zoom, but you can sometimes also attend an online meeting via phone, or in a chat room.
Resources for Alcohol Addiction in South Carolina
Below are resources for alcohol abuse information and treatment in South Carolina.
South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse
The South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse website (https://www.daodas.sc.gov/) offers video and print information about addiction, including an alcohol self-test. It also offers a link to help you find treatment centers in South Carolina.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) South Carolina
The South Carolina NAMI website provides alink to different kinds of support groups around the state. In-person, online, and specialty groups (ex: Spanish-speaking, family support) are listed.
Resources
- Drug Abuse Statistics.org (2023). South Carolina Alcohol Abuse Statistics https://drugabusestatistics.org/alcohol-abuse-statistics/#south-carolina
- South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS) (2024). Underage Drinking https://www.daodas.sc.gov/services/prevention/underage-drinking/
- South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS. (2024). https://www.daodas.sc.gov/
- NAMI South Carolina (2024 update). Support Groups Offered Throughout the State https://namisc.org/support/