Chapter 7

Types of AA Meetings

Discussion: In Arizona, AA discussion meetings allow one member to share their personal experience, recovery journey, and hope for the future before opening the floor for others to share. They usually begin by referencing a topic from an AA text such as the Big Book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, AA Grapevine, or others.

Literature: Arizona literature-focused AA meetings are community support meetings for people affected by alcohol addiction. These sessions offer peer support within a 12-step program and focus on the study of AA literature, including the Big Book of AA, AA workbooks, and other writings by AA co-founder Bill W and other leaders.

Open: Open AA meetings in Arizona are open to anyone who wants to learn more about the program and how the 12 step recovery model operates. This may include individuals seeking help for alcohol addiction as well as their friends and family members. This allows nonalcoholics to understand the basic meeting structure so they can provide support moving forward.

Speaker: Arizona AA centers often invite speakers to inspire participants to battle alcohol. Speakers employ a combination of humor, spirituality, raw emotions, and encouragement.