New to AA

If you’re new to Alcoholics Anonymous, welcome - you’re in the right place. You don’t have to have everything figured out, and you don’t have to do this alone. AA is a community of people who share their experience, strength, and hope to help each other stay sober and live healthier lives.

The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees - AA is self-supporting through voluntary contributions. Meetings are a place where you can listen, share if you feel comfortable, and connect with others who understand what you’re going through.

It’s okay to feel unsure at first. Many people start by simply attending meetings and listening. Over time, you may find it helpful to get a sponsor, read AA literature, and become part of a home group. Meetings generally last about one hour, and while you may hear members share their personal experiences with drinking and recovery, no one will force you to share or call on you. You will find a room full of people who understand exactly what you are going through, and you are welcome to participate as much or as little as you like. 

A.A.’s Twelve Steps are a set of spiritual principles. When practiced as a way of life, they can expel the obsession to drink and enable the sufferer to recover from alcoholism.

The Twelve Traditions apply to A.A. as a whole. They outline how A.A. maintains its unity and relates itself to the world around it.

The book Alcoholics Anonymous describes the A.A. program of recovery. It also contains stories written by the co-founders and stories from a wide range of members who have found recovery in A.A.

Wherever you are in your journey, you are welcome here.