What is Alcoholics Anonymous?
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a free support group for those struggling with alcohol addiction. Regular group meetings are available across Michigan to provide a supportive community and tools for achieving and maintaining sobriety.
AA Meeting in Detroit
1274 Library St
Detroit, MI 48226
- Monday – Friday: 12 pm (open discussion)
- Tuesday, Thursday: 6 pm (closed discussion for alcoholics only)
- Saturday: 10 am (open discussion), 8 pm (speaker meeting)
- Sunday: 10 am (closed discussion), 6 pm (open discussion)
AA Meeting in Grand Rapids
351 Division Ave S
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
- Monday: Noon (closed discussion), 8 pm (open discussion)
- Wednesday: Noon (open discussion), 8 pm (closed discussion)
- Friday: Noon (speaker meeting), 8 pm (open discussion)
- Saturday: 10 am (closed discussion), 6 pm (open discussion)
- Sunday: 10 am (open discussion), 6 pm (closed discussion)
AA Meeting in Ann Arbor
516 E William St
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
- Monday: 6 pm (closed discussion)
- Tuesday: Noon (open discussion)
- Wednesday: 6 pm (closed discussion)
- Thursday: Noon (open discussion)
- Friday: Noon (speaker meeting)
- Saturday: 10 am (open discussion)
- Sunday: 6 pm (closed discussion for alcoholics only)
The 12 Steps of AA
AA outlines a 12-step program to help members achieve and maintain sobriety:
- Step 1 — involves admitting powerlessness over alcohol and that life has become unmanageable.
- Step 2 — calls for members to believe that a Power greater than themselves can restore sanity.
- Step 3 — involves deciding to turn control over to this higher Power.
- Step 4 — requires members to make a fearless moral inventory of themselves.
- Step 5 — asks members to admit the exact nature of their wrongs to the Higher Power, themselves, and another human being.
- Step 6 — calls on members to become entirely ready to have these defects of character removed.
- Step 7 — involves humbly asking the Higher Power to remove shortcomings.
- Step 8 — requires members to make a list of all persons harmed and become willing to make amends.
- Step 9 — calls for members to make direct amends to such people where possible, except when doing so would injure them or others.
- Step 10 — asks members to continue their inventory and promptly admit when wrong.
- Step 11 — involves seeking through prayer and meditation to improve conscious contact with the higher Power.
- Step 12 — calls on members to carry this message to other alcoholics and practice these principles in all affairs.
Getting Started with AA in Michigan
Use a meeting search on wfmh.org to find local meetings in your area. Both in-person and online/virtual meetings are available in most places across Michigan.
Attending Your First Local AA Meeting
There are two main types of AA meetings in Michigan:
| Meeting Type | Description |
| Open Meetings | These meetings are open to the public, including non-alcoholics. Anyone interested in learning more about AA or supporting a loved one is welcome to attend. |
| Closed Meetings | These meetings are restricted to individuals who have a desire to stop drinking. Attendance is limited to those who identify as alcoholics or are seeking help with their alcohol addiction. |
Arrive early and introduce yourself to the group as a new local member. Share your experiences and stories if you feel comfortable. At your first meeting, you’ll receive a welcome keychain tag marking your sobriety milestone. Common keychain tags include:
- 30 days
- 60 days
- 90 days
- 6 months
- 9 months
- 1 year
- 18 months
- Years (2, 3, 4, etc.)
- Birthdays (celebrating annual sobriety milestones)
Keep attending meetings and collecting tags as you progress in your sobriety with AA.
