What is AA?
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a global support group designed to help individuals struggling with alcohol addiction. Through shared experiences, strength, and hope, members work collaboratively to overcome their dependence on alcohol and maintain sobriety.
AA offers a free program with regular group meetings held across many cities in the United States, including numerous locations throughout Sacramento, California. These meetings provide a confidential and supportive environment where attendees can seek recovery together.
Pioneer Group
Address: 1820 J St, Sacramento, CA 95811
Meeting Times: Monday – Sunday at 12:00 pm and 6:00 pm
Meeting Details: These meetings are closed, meaning attendance is limited to individuals who have a desire to stop drinking. Each session lasts approximately one hour and typically features a speaker who shares their journey and insights about recovery, fostering a focused and supportive atmosphere.
Came to Believe Group
Address: 4400 San Juan Ave, Sacramento, CA 95820
Meeting Times: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:00 pm
Meeting Details: This group holds open speaker meetings where any interested parties, including newcomers and observers, are welcome to attend. Meetings last about 90 minutes and encourage participants to share their personal experiences with alcoholism and recovery, facilitating communal strength and hope.
North Hall Group
Address: 3501 2nd Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95817
Meeting Times: Various meetings held daily (check local schedules)
Meeting Details: Founded by LGBTQIA+ members, North Hall is an inclusive fellowship welcoming all. It offers a range of regularly scheduled meetings focused on sharing experience, strength, and hope to assist members in overcoming alcoholism. The fellowship emphasizes respect, confidentiality, and mutual support among attendees.
The 12 Steps of AA
- Admit powerlessness: Members acknowledge that their addiction to alcohol has made their lives unmanageable, a crucial first step toward acceptance and seeking help.
- Believe in a greater power: Come to believe that a power greater than oneself can restore sanity and health; this may be a spiritual concept or personal higher power.
- Make a decision: Decide to turn one’s will and life over to this higher power, committing oneself fully to the recovery process.
- Self-examination: Conduct a fearless and moral inventory of oneself to identify personal flaws and patterns contributing to addiction.
- Admit wrongs: Admit to the higher power, oneself, and another person the exact nature of these wrongs to foster honesty and accountability.
- Ready for change: Be entirely ready to have the higher power remove all these defects of character, opening the door for improvement.
- Ask for removal of shortcomings: Humbly request that the higher power removes one’s defects, acknowledging that change requires a foundation beyond self-will.
- Make amends: Create a list of all persons harmed, and become willing to make amends to them wherever possible, to heal relationships damaged by addiction.
- Repair damages: Make direct amends to such people except when doing so would harm them or others, promoting integrity and reconciliation.
- Continue self-assessment: Continue to take personal inventory and promptly admit when wrong, sustaining vigilance over one’s recovery journey.
- Seek spiritual growth: Through prayer and meditation, improve conscious contact with the higher power, praying for knowledge of its will and strength to carry it out.
- Help others: Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, carry this message to other alcoholics and practice these principles in all aspects of life.
Getting Started with AA in California, Sacramento, Sacramento, USA
The most reliable way to find local AA meetings in Sacramento is by using the meeting search on wfmh.org. This resource provides up-to-date information about available meetings in the area including both in-person and online/virtual formats, accommodating different schedules and preferences.
Almost all places in Sacramento offer both traditional face-to-face meetings and virtual gatherings to ensure accessibility and convenience for everyone seeking support.
Attending Your First Local AA Meeting
AA meetings in Sacramento are categorized as either “open” or “closed,” each serving different purposes:
| Meeting Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Open Meetings | Anyone can attend, including family members, friends, and those curious about AA. These meetings encourage a welcoming atmosphere allowing broader participation. |
| Closed Meetings | Reserved exclusively for individuals who have a desire to stop drinking, ensuring anonymity and a safe space for participants to share openly. |
- Arrive 10-15 minutes early to introduce yourself as a new local member, allowing time to settle in and meet others.
- Share your experiences during the meeting if you feel comfortable, or simply listen and observe to understand the group dynamic.
- At your first meeting, you may receive welcome keychain tags that mark sobriety milestones as motivation for continued recovery.
List of Keychain Tag Milestones and Descriptions
- 30 Days: Celebrates the initial month of sobriety, highlighting commitment to change.
- 60 Days: Marks continued progress in recovery and growing strength to maintain abstinence.
- 90 Days: Represents three months of sobriety, emphasizing perseverance and dedication.
- 6 Months: A significant milestone denoting half a year of successful sobriety.
- 9 Months: Highlights ongoing recovery efforts and building a stable lifestyle free from alcohol.
- 1 Year: Symbolizes a full year of sobriety, a major achievement recognized and celebrated widely within the AA community.
