My First A.A. Meeting

Last semester I took a class on substance abuse and drugs in American culture. Part of the class was to attend a 12-step meeting of any kind. Living in South Florida, finding a 12-step meeting was no problem considering we are the capital of the country for rehab facilities. But which one to go to? I found some that were held on the beach, some at parks or churches. Some for gambling addictions, narcotics anonymous, pornography addictions, overeaters anonymous etc. While they sounded interesting, and I knew I would learn a lot, I decided to attend an alcoholics anonymous (A.A.) meeting. While I have never had more than a couple drinks, my grandmother was an alcoholic, and two of my aunts are still struggling. You could say I have had some experience with the disease. 

I took a classmate with me as our professor suggested. The meeting that Alison and I attended was an open A.A. Big Book meeting. After researching the 12-step process for my class I knew what was meant by “Big Book.” I also knew that I wasn’t going to have to speak or share anything personal.

As Alison and I approached the meeting place we discussed what we thought we were going to see. I wasn’t sure what I expected. I expected possibly a room of ten or fifteen people. I also expected for the stories they shared to be of their struggle with their addiction to alcohol.

When we arrived there was a group of people standing outside the door. The meeting hall was at a common house which is specifically for 12-step meetings. Those standing outside were smoking cigarettes, we walked passed them and into the hall. There was a podium on a small stage and a room full of long tables with about 100 chairs. The room slowly started to fill as we began the meeting promptly at 7:00. About 50 or 60 people filled the room. We started the meeting with the “Serenity Prayer.” Tonight’s meeting was on the second step. The second step states, "Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity." Two volunteers then read the 12-steps and 12-promises aloud. Then we went around the room reading the section of the “Big Book” referring to the second step. At this point it was time for open discussion.

Open discussion was different then I thought it was going to be. Rather than telling individual stories about instances involving alcohol, the discussions were about the second step. One woman spoke about being mad at God and not understanding how she was supposed to believe in a higher power when God had let her down. Another woman suggested that she just has to admit to herself that their “could” be a higher power, and that for her she did not realize the higher power’s role in her recovery until the twelfth step. Another woman described going through the second step as a process. Each person discussed how they got through the second step and how it applied to their life, what it meant to them, advice for others.

After open discussion we stood in a circle around the room and said The Lord’s Prayer.  The meeting went by quickly and smoothly. I could tell that most of the people in the room had been through one before and knew the process. I could also tell that being at these meetings helped a lot of people. One woman who spoke said that the last 11 months she had not been attending meetings regularly, and her life had begun to fall apart. With her baby asleep in her arms, she told the group that she was recommitting herself to the program, and already it had started to make a difference.

Now that I have been to a meeting, I have been able to tell one of my friends that when she is ready, I will go with her. I can see how 12-step meetings can help those with addictions. It lets people know that they are not alone. It also gives you an outlet, to speak and help others. Helping others must make people feel good when they are having issues themselves. The fact that meetings are held all over the place at all times during the day and are completely free is also very helpful. The 12-step program is developed very well so that it can be personalized and allow the most help possible for people. As we left the meeting, people hugged and said goodbye to each other. I have never been to a place where there was absolutely no judgement of others.