If you think you might have an addiction to drugs or alcohol and are ready to seek help, you might want to start by going to a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous or AA. Finding your first AA meeting can be a little intimidating as it involves admitting that you might need help with an addiction. This page will help you overcome the problem of how to find an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.

Alcoholics Anonymous was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson.http://www.aa.org/aatimeline/ Seventy years later, the organization remains committed to spreading sobriety through fellowship. Men and women come together to share their experiences dealing with and overcoming addiction. Attending meetings is one of the best ways to get, and stay, sober. There are several ways you can find an AA meeting, which are held in every city of every state in the U.S. and most other countries.

One of the easiest ways to find a meeting is to go online.

1. AA.org is the main Alcoholics Anonymous website, and they provide links to most local AA central offices, which maintain lists of all of the meetings in their area.http://www.aa.org/lang/en/meeting_finder.cfm?origpage=29
   1. Open meetings can be attended by anyone.
   2. Closed meetings can only be attended by those who identify as alcoholics.
2. There are a variety of non-official websites that list meetings by location. SoberPlace is one such site, and also provides additional information about addiction.

All areas have a central location that they report in to. These offices can be a great resource for finding an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, and many are available 24 hours a day.

1. Look in the phone book for an Alcoholics Anonymous listing. This listing should include the number for your local central office.http://www.ehow.com/how_2097711_alcoholics-anonymous-meeting-anywhere.html
2. AA.org has listings of all central office contact numbers.
3. When you call the central office, make sure to let the volunteer answering the phones know the exact time and area in which you are seeking a meeting. This will assist them in helping you find the closest and most convenient meeting.

1. Sometimes you have friends or family who know someone who got sober or have gotten sober themselves. They might be able to recommend an excellent meeting for you.
2. Talk to your minister, priest, rabbi or other religious figure. While AA has no religious affiliation, meetings are often held in church or temple spaces. Your clergy person might be able to direct you to a meeting.http://www.ehow.com/how_4479982_find-alcoholics-anonymous-meeting.html

Different meetings have different dynamics and ways of approaching the program. If the first meeting you find doesn't seem to suit you, try another one. Remember, the most important thing is to get the help you need to stop drinking and/or taking drugs excessively.