Gateway Wednesday

Types of AA Meetings

Birthday: In AA, birthdays refer to the last day (or the day after) that a member used alcohol or drugs. Birthday anniversaries are celebrated as milestones to encourage sobriety.

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.

Step Meeting: Step meetings are a central part of AA programs in Maryland. Here, members read passages from AA texts like Twelve Steps, discuss how they have used these steps in their recovery, and make plans for improvement for their next meeting.

Wheelchair Access: Maryland AA centers may include wheelchair access for non-ambulatory clients. Features may include ramps, designated parking spaces, and safe navigability of the center’s layout.