Just Breathe

Types of AA Meetings

12 Steps & 12 Traditions: Oregon's AA embraces the 12 Steps and Traditions and provides a lifeline of support for individuals on their journey to sobriety. Meetings flexible, peer led, and offer a safe space for individuals and their loved ones to find the support they need.

Big Book: In Oregon, AA participants use the Big Book as a source of inspiration. They actively discuss the stories of real people in the book who overcame alcohol use disorder.

Closed: Closed AA meetings in Oregon are not open to the public. Community members cannot sit in and observe. Instead, the only attendees are AA members and individuals seeking treatment for alcohol addiction.

LGBTQ: Selected AA chapters focus on providing a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community, and generally welcome LGBTQ+ allies. These groups prioritize members’ recovery and sobriety within a non-heteronormative context.

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 Oregon create a space for people who are new to AA to ask questions and glean insights from more experienced members. These meetings usually include a synopsis of Steps 1 through 3 of the 12 step recovery model.

Speaker: AA centers in Oregon often invite speakers to inspire their members to resist relapse. Speakers are usually AA alumni and use humor, raw emotions, charm, faith, and reason to appeal to listeners.

Women: Oregon women’s AA meetings are group meetings for women who are impacted by alcohol addiction - those who have alcohol addiction and those who have loved ones who are suffering from alcoholism. Open to women of all ages in the community, these meetings follow a 12-step program for recovery and are free to attend.

Young People: AA meetings for young people are intended for members in early adulthood, usually in their late teens and twenties. These groups focus on the experiences and issues that young people may face in their recovery.