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It’s well known that Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is centered around meetings. Indeed, the get-togethers are considered one of the most crucial aspects of the program, but not everyone has the time in their schedule to attend an in-person session. Did you know you can attend AA meetings online?
It’s a different experience than what you may expect, but it makes for a great alternative option. Online AA meetings can be ideal if you’re concerned with convenience, anonymity, or protecting your health by limiting your exposure to others.
What Is AA Online?
Another way to pose this question is: Who is AA online?
The phrase actually describes a community of AA members managed by an organization called the Online Intergroup of Alcoholics Anonymous (OIAA).
A nonprofit established at the dawn of the Internet itself, the OIAA works to collect information on, promote, and regulate all the various AA meetings taking place in cyberspace.
This group works hand-in-hand with Alcoholics Anonymous. Its mission is to provide a centralized source of information on virtual AA meetings, as well as guidance on general AA philosophies and other resources for those who wish to stop drinking. It’s led by the OIAA 12th Step Committee, a group of volunteers offering help and advice, available through email 24/7.
The OIAA is run for and by AA members. The organization holds meetings throughout the year, attended by an Assembly, which any member of AA is welcome to join. Voting members of the nonprofit (including registered AA group representatives and officers) make joint decisions about various OIAA business.
The number one responsibility of the organization is connecting people to online AA meeting options.
How Do I Sign Up for An AA Online Meeting?
The best way to track down the right online AA meeting for you is to start with the Sober.com online directory. The OIAA also runs an extensive online directory with access to more than 1,000 AA online meetings taking place all over the world.
The list is diligently refreshed, with the OIAA making regular rounds to ensure all information is up-to-date.
You can filter it by a number of factors, including:
- Meeting type
- Meeting date
- Time
- Language
Once you find the meeting that works best for you, you’ll sign up separately for each one. Registering with each group individually is one of the ways the OIAA ensures that the meetings are run privately and anonymously. (It prevents the casual Internet browser from stumbling upon a meeting.)
The OIAA’s directory includes all the information to get you started on signing up for the service, including links to group websites or any contact information you’ll need. After signing up, you should receive further information about how to join future meetings from the specific group you’ve chosen.
Types of Online AA Support Groups
There are nearly as many different options for online AA meetings as people are hoping to utilize them.
Online AA meetings have actually been around since the early ‘90s, starting as group email exchanges. Today, technology has allowed for any number of different modes of communication to carry out the gatherings.
Email listservs are still a popular and widely available option, though AA meetings online can also take other form, including:
- Phone conferencing
- Video conferencing (Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams)
- Chatrooms
- Message boards
- Virtual reality
The size of the groups can range from two or three people to hundreds of subscribers. The meeting topics can also vary widely, with group discussions covering anything from meditations on Big Book lessons, the official guidebook for AA members, to thoughts on general topics and more informal chats.
Thousands of online AA meetings take place around the world. They take place every day, in every time zone, in any number of languages. If you still can’t find the right fit for you, you can always create your own AA online meeting.
Pros and Cons of Online AA Support Groups
The most important part of attending AA online is to go into the meeting prepared to learn, listen, and grow as you would for an in-person AA meeting. These meetings can be tricky in that way: it’s easier to ignore a digital screen, zone out altogether, or get distracted by what’s going on in your home.
In fact, both the OIAA and AA recommend that AA members, especially newcomers, try to go to in-person AA meetings as much as possible, with online AA meetings reserved as a supplemental resource.
Still, there are several reasons why online meetings may be beneficial.
The OIAA mentions that the format is especially helpful for those with disabilities or anyone who has difficulty accessing reliable transportation. The same can be said for anyone who has a demanding, or “off hours”, schedule.
As with anything, the meetings are only as much as you make of them, whether you’re attending online or in person. With the right kind of attitude and attention, an online AA meeting can be a wonderful option on the road to recovery.
Who Can Run An AA Online Meeting?
The OIAA allows any AA member to fill out a meeting submission form to have their online meeting added to the master list of available options.
You’ll have to disclose some personal contact information as well as detailed information about:
- The type of meeting you run (or want to run)
- Where and how your meeting can be accessed online
- The language you primarily use
- The dates you typically meet
The OIAA will then review the application and determine whether or not to host the information on their online directory.
While the nonprofit strives for inclusivity and many, if not most, submissions are accepted, there are still some rules the organization has created to help regulate the online AA meeting space.
Running an AA Meeting: Eligibility Requirements
First, those wishing to host online AA meetings must actually be members of Alcoholics Anonymous. Group members must promise not to discriminate against any attendees based on their job, gender, or any other distinction.
Money and funding are additional concerns. Like Alcoholics Anonymous itself, any AA online meetings must be free of outside affiliations. Neither the meetings nor the groups running them should receive money from ad placement or funding from any outside organizations other than AA itself.
The group can also not endorse any philosophies, ideologies, issues, or enterprises outside the realm of AA. Though a wide definition is given to AA meetings online, the gatherings in question must actually involve people interacting and can’t just be digital recordings of daily affirmations or links to other social networks.
To qualify, meeting organizers will also have to ensure their groups are anonymous. This means keeping all member names, photos, and other identifying information away from public pages or shared files.
It may seem like a lot of rules, but they’re meant to foster the same type of caring, close-knit, and, especially, anonymous community online that attendees of in-person Alcoholics Anonymous meetings benefit from.
Online AA meetings can be an integral part of your recovery journey. If you think you may need more help with your recovery, call
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