Boston AA Meetings

What is Alcoholics Anonymous?

Alcoholics Anonymous was founded in 1935. It is an international organization of men and women who have had drinking problems with alcohol. AA offers peer support to help its members gain and maintain sobriety.

AA has meetings every day across the globe to support each other in sobriety. There are a number of meetings that take place in the Boston, MA area.

Meetings are free to attend and open to anyone who would like support in overcoming their drinking issues.

AA meetings are non-denominational and may take place in churches or other religious settings. They are private and expectations of privacy are assumed. There are no requirements to attend except for the desire to want to achieve and maintain sobriety.

There are several types of AA meetings, including:

• Open meetings – These are meetings that anyone can attend, including friends and family who want to provide support. These meetings often have speakers and member’s who tell their specific stories.
• Closed meetings – These meetings are open to alcoholics in recovery or who desire to stop drinking. The public is not invited to a closed meeting.
• Beginner’s meetings – These are for people who are new to AA and most likely also new to the recovery process. These focus on the fundamental needs of early recovery to avoid relapse.
• 12-Step meetings – These meetings walk participants through the 12 Steps of AA. One step is focused on per session.
• Big Book Study meetings – During these meetings, participants work together going through the Big Book of AA. The Big Book contains the principles behind AA.
• Demographic-Specific meetings – There are AA meetings for young people, the LGBTQ community, women and other specific groups. These meetings accommodate specific needs of a group in a safe space.
• Online meetings – Many meetings are available online.

What to Expect During AA Meetings.

Going to one’s first AA meeting can seem daunting or scary, but it is really simple. There is no sign-in sheet and privacy is respected. There are no intrusive questions or obligations to share or talk at all if participants choose not to. You may be invited to speak, but you are not obligated to.

New members are warmly welcomed at meetings. They are encouraged to listen and speak when they are ready. Everyone at a meeting was once a new member and is very understanding.

During AA meetings, certain participants may be asked to share their personal stories or share on a specific topic. Sometimes meetings focus on a step of the 12-step process each week. These meetings may follow more of an agenda than others.

Some meetings may have a special speaker or a potluck dinner. Meetings can also be open discussion and allow for more time for socializing one on one.

There are a number of different meeting formats for AA meetings. Not everyone responds well to the same type of meeting. It is important to try a few different ones out to see which recovery support works best for you.

What is Al-Anon?

Al-Anon is a program that is designed to offer support to families with an addicted or alcoholic loved one.

Similar to AA, Al-Anon also has weekly support group meetings and families are welcome to attend, regardless of their age.

Attending an Al-Anon can help to stop enabling behavior and, instead, help families learn healthier coping skills. Going to meetings also provides an outlet where families and loved ones can share their concerns with people who understand what they are going through.

There are several types of Al-Anon meetings:

• Open meetings: Visitors and members can attend.
• Closed meetings – Members and prospective members are welcome to attend.
• Alateen meetings – These meetings are for young people; typically teenagers, but young adults and older children are often welcome to attend as well.
• Al-Anon Adult Children meetings – Topics generally center around family issues.
• Beginners meetings – Topics focus on newcomers.

What to Expect During Al-Anon Meetings

During Al-Anon meetings, participants are invited to listen and may share when they are ready. As with AA, Al-Anon is based on an environment of support, anonymity and respect.

Why is Attending Addiction Recovery Meetings Important?

Attending recovery meetings when working to maintain sobriety has been found to be important for a number of reasons. The most important factor in sobriety seems to be peer support. It is a crucial factor for people to not feel alone in the recovery and healing process which occurs when working on overcoming addictions.

Peer to peer support is what AA meetings are based on. Fellowship with those who have been in the same position can be beneficial to new members. Peer support is an important part of the recovery process.

Attending meetings can also help improve coping skills, build social support and allow participants to put what they have learned to use. Meetings allow participants to offer support based on skills that have been learned and other people’s experiences can be very valuable.

Traveling to SpringBoard Recovery in Arizona for Drug and Alcohol Rehab

People often choose to travel from Boston MA to SpringBoard Recovery for drug and alcohol rehab.

• Needing to find an addiction treatment program that accepts their health insurance plans.
• Being away from home allows for more focus on recovering from addiction.
• A fresh start in a new environment creates new habits and can aid in the recovery process and help it go smoother.
• Recovering in an area that is free from triggers and people that might derail their attempts at recovery.
• Some people require anonymity and going through a program in their home area may not be private.
• A comfortable climate and environment for treatment can lead to a healthier lifestyle and healthier habits.
• Studies have shown being away from home enables one to more likely stay the course through the first days of withdrawal symptoms during alcohol detox.

SpringBoard Recovery is able to offer recovery housing as well as our addiction treatment program. We are here to help. Please contact us today to learn more.