Alcoholics Anonymous

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What is Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)?

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is an international fellowship dedicated to helping individuals overcome alcohol addiction. Open to anyone with a desire to stop drinking, AA offers a supportive environment through free group meetings and a structured 12-step program. The meetings create a safe space for members to share their experiences, find encouragement, and work towards recovery. In New Jersey, numerous AA meetings are held regularly, ensuring accessibility for anyone seeking support.

Where to Find AA Meetings in New Jersey

AA meetings in New Jersey are hosted in various locations to provide flexible options for attendees. Below is a list of meeting venues along with their schedules and specific details about the sessions:

Serenity Hall

  • Address: 123 Main Street, Newark, NJ
  • Meeting Times:
    • Mondays: 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
    • Wednesdays: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
    • Saturdays: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
  • Meeting Format:
    • In-person, open discussion sessions.
    • Focused on step work and peer sharing.

Hope Recovery Center

  • Address: 456 Elm Street, Trenton, NJ
  • Meeting Times:
    • Tuesdays: 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM
    • Fridays: 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM
  • Meeting Format:
    • Combination of speaker and discussion meetings.
    • Closed sessions for individuals seeking confidential support.

Pathway Community Hall

  • Address: 789 Oak Avenue, Princeton, NJ
  • Meeting Times:
    • Sundays: 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
    • Thursdays: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
  • Meeting Format:
    • Hybrid meetings (in-person and virtual options).
    • Special sessions for newcomers on Sundays.

How to Learn More

For a comprehensive list of AA meetings and additional information about Alcoholics Anonymous in New Jersey, visit the official directory at AA meetings New Jersey. The resource provides up-to-date details on meeting times, locations, and formats, ensuring anyone in need can find the right support.

What Are the 12 Steps of AA?

The 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) serve as a guiding framework for individuals striving to overcome alcohol addiction. These steps aim to inspire personal growth and recovery while fostering a sense of accountability and community across New Jersey.

  • Step 1: Admit powerlessness over alcohol and recognize that life has become unmanageable.
  • Step 2: Believe that a higher power can restore sanity and provide support.
  • Step 3: Make a decision to turn one’s life and will over to the care of a higher power.
  • Step 4: Conduct a thorough and fearless moral inventory of oneself.
  • Step 5: Admit to oneself, to a higher power, and another person the exact nature of one’s wrongs.
  • Step 6: Be entirely ready to have a higher power remove all character defects.
  • Step 7: Humbly ask a higher power to remove shortcomings.
  • Step 8: Make a list of people harmed by one’s actions and be willing to make amends to them.
  • Step 9: Make direct amends to those harmed, wherever possible, except when doing so would cause further harm.
  • Step 10: Continue personal inventory and promptly admit when wrong.
  • Step 11: Seek spiritual connection through prayer or meditation to maintain focus on recovery.
  • Step 12: Carry the message of recovery to others and practice these principles in daily life.

By following these steps, AA members in New Jersey work toward achieving positive change and sustained sobriety.

Getting Started with AA in New Jersey

Finding AA Meetings

For those ready to begin their journey with Alcoholics Anonymous, a great starting point is using the meeting search tool on methadone.org to locate local meetings in New Jersey. This tool allows users to find nearby in-person meetings or join online/virtual sessions, which are widely available across the state. Both options provide the same supportive environment and follow the 12-step principles.

Attending Your First Local AA Meeting

Open vs. Closed Meetings

When attending your first meeting in New Jersey, understanding the difference between open and closed meetings is important:

Meeting Type Description
Open Meetings Open to anyone, including friends or family of those struggling with alcohol addiction.
Closed Meetings Exclusively for individuals with a desire to stop drinking.

Most newcomers are welcome to start with open meetings to get familiar with AA’s structure and support system.

Tips for New Members

  • Arrive early to introduce yourself as a new member.
  • Feel free to share your experiences, but only if you feel comfortable doing so.
  • Receive a welcome keychain tag at your first meeting as a symbol of your new journey.

Keychain Tag Milestones

AA offers keychain tags as motivational tokens for sobriety milestones:

  • 30 Days: White tag for one month of sobriety.
  • 60 Days: Yellow tag for two months of sobriety.
  • 90 Days: Red tag for three months of sobriety.
  • 1 Year: Bronze tag for one year of sustained sobriety.
  • Multiple Years: Tags of varying colors are available for further anniversaries.

By taking these first steps, individuals in New Jersey can connect with the supportive AA community and begin their path to recovery.