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What is Alcoholics Anonymous?
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is an international fellowship of men and women who have had a drinking problem. It is nonprofessional, self-supporting, multiracial, apolitical, and available almost everywhere. AA groups meet regularly to help members achieve sobriety.
Jacksonville River City Group
Meetings:
- Monday – Friday at noon (open discussion)
- Tuesday and Thursday at 6:30 pm (closed discussion for alcoholics only)
Orlando Into Action Group
Meetings:
- Sunday at 7:30 am (closed discussion)
- Wednesday at 6:00 pm (open speaker discussion)
Miami Biscayne Group
Meetings:
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 10 am (closed discussion for women only)
- Tuesday and Thursday at 8 pm (open speaker discussion)
The 12 Steps of AA
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) outlines a 12-step program to support members in achieving and maintaining sobriety. The steps are:
- Admitting powerlessness over alcohol and that lives have become unmanageable.
- Coming to believe in a Power greater than oneself that can restore sanity.
- Making the decision to turn one’s will and life over to the care of this Power.
- Making a searching and fearless moral inventory of oneself.
- Admitting to this Power, to oneself, and to another human being the exact nature of wrongs.
- Becoming entirely ready to have these defects of character removed.
- Humbly asking this Power to remove shortcomings.
- Making a list of all persons harmed and becoming willing to make amends.
- Making direct amends to such people whenever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
- Continuing to take personal inventory and promptly admit wrongdoing.
- Seeking through prayer and meditation to improve conscious contact with this Power as we understand it, praying only for knowledge of Its will and the power to carry that out.
- Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, trying to carry this message to others struggling with alcoholism and to practice these principles in all affairs.
The 12 steps aim to motivate members to make positive changes in their lives and inspire others to find recovery from alcoholism. The program has expanded across Florida and worldwide.
Getting Started with AA in Florida
Use the meeting search on wfmh.org to find local Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings in your area of Florida. Both in-person and online/virtual meetings are available in most places across the state.
Attending Your First Local AA Meeting
Florida has both open and closed AA meetings:
- Open meetings – Anyone can attend, including non-alcoholics.
- Closed meetings – Only those with a desire to stop drinking may attend.
Arrive early to your first meeting and introduce yourself as a new local member. Share your experiences if you feel comfortable. You may receive welcome keychain tags marking sobriety milestones:
- 30 days
- 60 days
- 90 days
- 6 months
- 9 months
- 1 year
The tags provide encouragement and a tangible reminder of progress. AA literature suggests attending at least six meetings to have an idea of what AA is and how the program works. Approach multiple meetings with an open mind before deciding if it is right for you. The most important thing is to keep showing up.