Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings in Athens

What is Alcoholics Anonymous?

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a free support group for those struggling with alcohol addiction. Regular AA group meetings are available throughout Athens and Clarke County. AA provides a program of recovery from alcoholism through peer support and spirituality. Attendance at meetings is voluntary and open to anyone seeking help with drinking problems. Groups meet in various locations and at different times. Meetings are facilitated by AA members.

Central Presbyterian Church

• Monday at 8:00 pm (1 hour, open, wheelchair accessible)
• Tuesday at 8:00 pm (1 hour, open, women’s group)
• Friday at 8:00 pm (1 hour, open)

First Baptist Church

• Wednesday at 8:00 pm (1 hour, open)
• Saturday at 11:00 am (1 hour, open)

First United Methodist Church

• Monday at 12:00 pm (1 hour, open)
• Thursday at 8:00 pm (1.5 hours, open)

The 12 Steps of AA

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) outlines a 12-step program to help members achieve and maintain sobriety. The steps aim to motivate members to make positive changes in their lives by:

1. Admitting they are powerless over alcohol and that their lives have become unmanageable
2. Coming to believe that a Power greater than themselves can restore them to sanity
3. Making a decision to turn their will and lives over to the care of God as they understand Him
4. Making a searching and fearless moral inventory of themselves
5. Admitting to God, to themselves, and to another human being the exact nature of their wrongs
6. Being entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character
7. Humbly asking Him to remove their shortcomings
8. Making a list of all the people they have harmed and becoming willing to make amends to them all
9. Making direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when doing so would injure them or others
10. Continuing to take personal inventory and, when they are wrong, promptly admitting it
11. Seeking through prayer and meditation to improve their conscious contact with God as they understand Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for them and the power to carry that out
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, trying to carry this message to other alcoholics and to practice these principles in all their affairs

The 12 steps aim to motivate members to make positive life changes across Athens, Clarke County, Georgia, and the United States as a whole. The program provides support and encouragement to achieve and maintain sobriety.

Getting Started with AA in Athens

Use the meeting search on wfmh.org to find local meetings in the Athens area. Both in-person and online/virtual meetings are available.

Attending Your First Local AA Meeting

There are two main types of AA meetings in Athens:

• Open Meetings: Anyone is welcome to attend, including non-alcoholics. These are good for first-timers.
• Closed Meetings: Only those who have a desire to stop drinking may attend. These can provide more intimate sharing.

Arrive 10-15 minutes early and introduce yourself to the Chairperson as a new local member. Share your experiences if you feel comfortable. You may receive the following welcome keychain tags, marking sobriety milestones:

• 30 days
• 60 days
• 90 days
• 6 months
• 9 months
• 1 year
• 18 months
• Years 2-50

The most important things are attending regularly, participating if willing, finding a sponsor, and working the program one day at a time. Athens has a strong and welcoming AA community to support your sobriety journey.

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