Fe y Acción

Types of AA Meetings

Closed: In Maryland, closed AA meetings are not accessible to the general public. The only people who can attend are current members and individuals who recognize they have a problem with drinking and want to find help. Discussions are informal and participation is encouraged.

Discussion: AA discussion meetings in Maryland are designed to be conversational and informative. Leaders will choose a theme for discussion that relates to alcohol addiction and recovery, often pulling inspiration from an AA text, such as Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions. After sharing briefly, they’ll invite others to join in.

Open: In Maryland, anyone in the community can attend open AA meetings. This includes individuals seeking treatment for alcohol use disorder and nonalcoholics who want to understand more about the program. Family, relatives, and loved ones of alcoholics can attend AA meetings to learn about addiction and what to expect as their loved one recovers.

Spanish: Spanish AA meetings are intended for members who have limited English-speaking skills or those who choose to participate in Spanish. Other features of the center, such as AA literature or sign-language interpreters, may or may not be available in Spanish.

Speaker: Speakers are often part of an AA program to motivate audiences to harden their resolve against alcohol. In Maryland, speakers tend to use a mixture of humor, faith, charm, and raw emotions.