What is AA?
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a worldwide fellowship of people who share their experience, strength, and hope to help each other recover from alcoholism, with local support available through aa groups in Sacramento. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking, and there are no dues or fees; AA groups are self-supporting through voluntary contributions.
AA meetings are available in communities across the United States, including many neighborhoods in Sacramento, California, where local groups hold daily gatherings for support and recovery. AA is not affiliated with any political, religious, or other outside organization and focuses solely on helping individuals achieve and maintain sobriety.
North Hall Group of Alcoholics Anonymous
Address: 3501 2nd Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.
North Hall is a fellowship founded by LGBTQIA+ members of AA and welcomes people of all identities who seek recovery. This location hosts several meetings every day, including candlelight and young-people-friendly formats, offering a structured but informal space where participants can share and listen.
East Yolo Fellowship – West Sacramento
Address: 910 Sacramento Avenue, West Sacramento, CA 95605, USA.
East Yolo Fellowship holds multiple open meetings, including “Back to Basics” step and Big Book–focused gatherings where members study AA literature and discuss how to apply it to daily life. Some meetings are specifically for men or young people, and the fellowship provides a consistent schedule throughout the week to support continuous engagement in recovery.
Un Nuevo Camino – Spanish‑Language Group
Address: 1361 Merkley Avenue, West Sacramento, CA 95691, USA.
Un Nuevo Camino is an open, Spanish‑language AA group that offers meetings at noon and in the evening, providing culturally and linguistically appropriate support for Spanish-speaking members. Meetings follow AA principles with readings, personal sharing, and group discussion focused on staying sober one day at a time.
The 12 Steps of AA
The AA program is based on the 12 Steps, which guide members toward sustained sobriety and personal growth in Sacramento and throughout California. These steps are used in meetings, personal reflection, and sponsorship relationships to support lasting change.
- Admitting powerlessness over alcohol
Members acknowledge that alcohol has become unmanageable in their lives, and that willpower alone has not been enough to stop drinking. This honest admission is considered the foundation of recovery, opening the door to help from others and from the AA program. - Believing a power greater than ourselves can help
Members come to believe that some power greater than themselves—understood individually and not defined by AA—can restore them to sanity. This step emphasizes hope and the idea that change is possible with support. - Turning our will and lives over to that higher power
Individuals decide to align their actions and decisions with the guidance of that higher power as they understand it. This step encourages letting go of self-centered control that previously fueled addictive behavior. - Making a searching and fearless moral inventory
Members conduct an honest written review of their resentments, fears, harms done, and recurring patterns. This inventory helps identify behaviors and attitudes that contribute to drinking and other problems. - Admitting our wrongs to ourselves, another person, and a higher power
The member shares the inventory with a trusted person, often a sponsor, and with their higher power as they understand it. This step is meant to reduce secrecy, shame, and isolation, fostering accountability and relief. - Becoming entirely ready to have defects of character removed
Individuals reflect on the patterns identified and become willing to let go of harmful traits such as dishonesty, selfishness, and resentment. Readiness in this step prepares members for a deeper emotional and behavioral change. - Humbly asking for shortcomings to be removed
Members make a humble request to their higher power to help them change these defects. This step stresses humility, recognizing that personal transformation requires ongoing help and effort. - Making a list of all persons harmed and becoming willing to make amends
Individuals list people they have harmed through their drinking and related behavior. They focus on willingness to repair damage where possible, without rushing into actions that might cause new harm. - Making direct amends wherever possible
Members approach those they have harmed to apologize and, when appropriate, to set things right, unless doing so would injure them or others. This step helps rebuild trust and reduces guilt that can trigger relapse. - Continuing personal inventory and promptly admitting wrongs
Individuals regularly review their daily behavior, look for mistakes, and correct them quickly. This ongoing practice helps prevent resentments and conflicts from accumulating. - Improving conscious contact through prayer and meditation
Members use prayer, meditation, or other reflective practices to strengthen their relationship with their higher power as they understand it. The goal is to gain guidance and maintain emotional balance that supports sobriety. - Carrying the message and practicing principles in all affairs
After experiencing some spiritual and personal change, members share AA’s message with others who still suffer from alcoholism. They also work to apply honesty, humility, and service in everyday life at home, work, and in their communities across Sacramento.
Getting Started with AA in California, Sacramento, Sacramento, USA
People in Sacramento and surrounding areas can search for meetings on wfmh.org to find local meetings in their area as the best variant. This site is presented here as the primary recommendation for locating nearby AA gatherings.
In many places, both in-person and online or virtual meetings are available, giving individuals flexibility based on their schedule, transportation, and comfort level. Virtual formats can include video, phone, or hybrid meetings, while in-person groups meet in locations such as community halls, churches, and dedicated AA clubhouses.
Attending Your First Local AA Meeting
In Sacramento, meetings are typically listed as either open or closed, and understanding the difference can help newcomers choose an appropriate group. New members are encouraged to arrive a few minutes early, introduce themselves as new local members if they feel comfortable, and observe how the meeting works before deciding whether to share.
| Meeting Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Open Meeting | Open meetings are available to anyone interested in AA, including family members, friends, and professionals. These meetings usually include readings from AA literature and personal sharing, and they are suitable for people who want to learn more about the program before deciding to join. |
| Closed Meeting | Closed meetings are limited to people who have a desire to stop drinking. They often provide a more intimate setting where members feel freer to discuss personal experiences related to alcohol use and recovery. |
At your first local AA meeting in Sacramento, arriving early allows time to ask questions about the format and sign in if the group keeps attendance sheets for group purposes. Many newcomers choose simply to listen at first, and sharing is always voluntary; people are invited, not required, to talk about their experiences.
In many AA groups, newcomers and members reaching sobriety milestones receive welcome keychain tags or chips as tangible reminders of their progress. These tokens are usually handed out during the opening or closing portion of a meeting, accompanied by supportive applause and encouragement from the group.
- 24 hours / “Desire” chip – Often given at the first meeting or on the first day of sobriety as a symbol of willingness to try staying sober one day at a time.
- 30 days – Marks the first month without alcohol, recognizing consistent effort and encouraging continued attendance.
- 60 days – Celebrates two months of sobriety, reinforcing the benefits of sticking with meetings and using AA tools.
- 90 days – A common early milestone where many members begin to feel more stable in their routines and connections within the fellowship.
- 6 months – Acknowledges half a year of continuous sobriety and the lifestyle changes that support it.
- 9 months – Recognizes ongoing commitment before the first full year, often highlighting growth in relationships and responsibilities.
- 1 year – Typically commemorated with a special chip or token and sometimes a brief celebration, as one year of sobriety is a major achievement.
- Multiple years – Many groups also mark anniversaries like 2, 5, 10 years and beyond, showing newcomers that long-term recovery is possible.