Chapel Hill – Carrboro Group

Types of AA Meetings

Big Book: In North Carolina, the Big Book is a source of inspiration for AA participants. The Big Book features the lives of real people who overcame alcohol use disorder.

Closed: Closed AA meetings in North Carolina are only open to AA members and individuals who realize they have a drinking problem and want to take steps toward recovery. Leaders will facilitate the informal discussion and newcomers will have the opportunity to ask questions.

Discussion: In North Carolina, AA discussion meetings focus on one specific subject related to alcohol addiction and recovery. Leaders will open by sharing the topic, which often comes from an AA text, such as the Big Book. Then, others can join in and add their own insights.

Grapevine: Grapevine is a monthly magazine published by AA. Its contents, written by AA members, generally feature the experiences of individuals with alcohol use disorder, and articles are often discussed in AA meetings.

Literature: Literature-led AA meetings in North Carolina are support group meetings for people who are affected by alcoholism, including those suffering from alcohol addiction and those who have loved ones addicted to alcohol. Free for all to attend, these 12-step meetings study AA literature such as the Big Book of AA, AA workbooks, and other writings by AA founders and leaders.

Meditation: Meditation AA meetings feature physical and emotional calmness as a main method of healing. The meetings open with 15 minutes of private mediation and close with an additional 5 minutes of meditation.

Newcomer: AA newcomer meetings in North Carolina help people who are unfamiliar with the program learn more about the 12 step recovery model works. These meetings are only open to individuals who are seeking help for alcohol addiction, and may include an overview of Steps 1 through 3.

Open: Open AA meetings in North Carolina allow anyone interested to attend. This helps attendees learn more about AA’s model of recovery and 12 step program model. Individuals seeking help for alcohol addiction are welcome to attend as well as anyone interested in supporting them on their journey.

Speaker: North Carolina AA centers frequently invite motivational speakers to build members’ resilience against relapse. By using humor, charm, faith, and reason, speakers inspire participants to maintain sobriety.

Women: North Carolina women’s AA meetings are peer support meetings for women who are affected by alcohol addiction. Free to attend for all women in the community, including women who are addicted to alcohol and those who have loved ones with alcoholism, these meetings offer community support with the structure of a self-guided 12-step recovery program.