First and Foremost, Welcome!

We are glad you are here. The purpose of AA is to carry the message to the alcoholic who still suffers. We stay sober by helping the newcomer and, more often than not, the newcomer helps those of us who have been in the program more than they know. We are a community built on reaching out and helping each other. We can’t do this alone.

If you step foot into any Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, chances are that you will hear suggestions for the newcomer. Many of these are directions of how based on experiences of how that person was able to get and remain sober. Although a newcomer at first may look at the suggestions as redundant or be skeptical, when you start to take some of the suggestions you will begin to see a significant change. Remember though suggestions are just that, suggestions; nothing is forced in AA. If you are ready and willing to get sober and stay sober, suggestions are what’s going to keep you on track. Here are some suggestions to get you started:

Don't Drink

Is this harder to do than it sounds? Then you may be in the right place but only you can decide whether A.A. is right for you. Most A.A.s will say that it’s how you drink, not how often, that determines whether or not you are an alcoholic.

Am I an alcoholic?

If you repeatedly drink more than you intend or want to, if you get into trouble, or if you have memory lapses when you drink, you may be an alcoholic. Only you can decide. No one in A.A. will tell you whether you are or not.

What can I do if I am worried about my drinking?

Seek help. Alcoholics Anonymous can help.

 What is Alcoholics Anonymous?

We are a Fellowship of men and women who have lost the ability to control our drinking and have found ourselves in various kinds of trouble as a result of drinking. We attempt—most of us successfully—to create a satisfying way of life without alcohol. For this we find we need the help and support of other alcoholics in A.A.

Find Out More

Go to a Meeting

Meetings are an important piece in recovery, they are where you will meet others like yourself, hear stories of experience, strength and hope, and learn more about the AA program of recovery. Click the button below to find a meeting near you and also download the Meeting Guide App in your Google Play Store or Apple App store.

What happens at an A.A. meeting?

An A.A. meeting may take one of several forms, but at any meeting you will find alcoholics talking about what drinking did to their lives and personalities, what actions they took to help themselves, and how they are living their lives today

If I go to an A.A. meeting, does that commit me to anything?

No. A.A. does not keep membership files, or attendance records. You do not have to reveal anything about yourself. No one will bother you if you don’t want to come back. What happens if I meet people I know? They will be there for the same reason you are.

*See More about AA meetings in the FAQ section below*

Find a Meeting Now

Get a Sponsor and Sober Supports

Sponsor is someone who “has what you want” or more specifically has the type of sobriety you admire. Sponsors often offer selfless 24-hour support and can give priceless advice about recovery. Sponsors typically have vast knowledge about recovery and sobriety and can support you along the way and usually know exactly what you are feeling and what you are going through. Usually sponsors are found in meetings, don’t be afraid to let the people to know that you are in search of one and keep talking to others. This is also a good way to build a sober circle, collect numbers and contacts to reach out to when you have an urge, have questions or just need a sober friend to hit a meeting with.

Day at a Time

Exactly as it says, taking each day at a one time

Above all, taking your recovery one day at a time prevents you from becoming dangerously overwhelmed in what will likely be one of the most complex and challenging times of your life.  Addiction causes many problems that often go ignored for years as substance abuse escalates. Once you have begun a recovery program and are working to maintain your sobriety, you must also begin the hard work of repairing the damage addiction has inflicted on every aspect of your life. By eliminating all worry that isn’t concerned with the here and now, you can focus on what you can control and practice letting go of everything else.

Frequently Asked Questions

We are a Fellowship of men and women who have lost the ability to control our drinking and have found ourselves in various kinds of trouble as a result of drinking. We attempt — most of us successfully — to create a satisfying way of life without alcohol. For this we find we need the help and support of other alcoholics in A.A.

No. A.A. does not keep membership files or attendance records. You do not have to reveal anything about yourself. No one will bother you if you don’t want to come back.

They will be there for the same reason you are there. They will not disclose your identity to outsiders. At A.A. you retain as much anonymity as you wish. That is one of the reasons we call ourselves Alcoholics Anonymous.

An A.A. meeting may take one of several forms, but at any meeting you will find alcoholics talking about what drinking did to their lives and personalities, what actions they took to help themselves, and how they are living their lives today.

We in A.A. know what it is like to be addicted to alcohol, and to be unable to keep promises made to others and ourselves that we will stop drinking. We are not professional therapists. Our only qualification for helping others to recover from alcoholism is that we have stopped drinking ourselves; and problem drinkers coming to us know that recovery is possible because they see people who have done it.

We in A.A. believe there is no such thing as a cure for alcoholism. We can never return to normal drinking, and our ability to stay away from alcohol depends on maintaining our physical, mental, and spiritual health. This we can achieve by going to meetings regularly and putting into practice what we learn there. In addition, we find it helps us to stay sober if we help other alcoholics.

You are an A.A. member if and when you say so. The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking, and many of us were not very wholehearted about that when we first approached A.A.

There are no dues or fees for A.A. membership. An A.A. group will usually have a collection during the meeting to cover expenses, such as rent, coffee, etc., and to this all members are free to contribute as much or as little as they wish.

No. Nor is it allied with any religious organization.

The majority of A.A. members believe that we have found the solution to our drinking problem not through individual willpower, but through a power greater than ourselves. However, everyone defines this power as he or she wishes. Many people call it God, others think it is the A.A. group, still others don’t believe in it at all. There is room in A.A. for people of all shades of belief and nonbelief.

You’re already in the right spot! Feel free to reach out by email or by phone

401-438-8860 (R.I. Central Service) SRIIntergroup@RhodeIsland-AA.org
401-739-8777 (Southern R.I. Intergroup) RICS@RhodeIsland-AA.org

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