Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings in Indiana

What Is Alcoholics Anonymous?

lcoholics Anonymous (AA) is an international fellowship of men and women who have had a drinking problem. It is nonprofessional, self-supporting, multiracial, apolitical, and available almost everywhere. AA groups meet regularly to help members achieve sobriety through following the 12-step program.

Central Group

Meetings:

• Monday – Friday at 12 pm (Discussion)
• Tuesday at 6 pm (Big Book/12&12 Study)
• Wednesday at 6 pm (Traditions Meeting)
• Thursday at 6 pm (Beginners)
• Saturday at 6 pm (Speaker Meeting)

Downtown Group

Meetings:

• Monday – Friday at 12 pm (Discussion)
• Tuesday and Thursday at 8 pm (Big Book Study)
• Saturday at 6 pm (Speaker Meeting)

Primary Purpose Group

Meetings:

• Monday at 8 pm (Discussion)
• Wednesday at 8 pm (12&12 Study)
• Friday at 8 pm (Big Book Study)
• Saturday at 6 pm (Speaker Meeting)

The 12 Steps of AA

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) outlines a 12-step program to support those recovering from alcohol addiction. The steps aim to motivate members toward positive change across Indiana.

1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable. The first step is acknowledging that alcohol addiction has made one’s life uncontrollable.
2. We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. Step two involves believing in a higher power that can help regain control and direction in life.
3. We made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. The third step is deciding to let one’s higher power guide major life decisions and recovery.
4. We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. Step four is self-reflecting to understand the exact nature of how alcohol addiction has impacted moral character.
5. We admitted to God, ourselves, and another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. Step five is confession of the specific ways addiction has negatively affected oneself and others.
6. We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. Step six involves becoming willing and open for the higher power to remove shortcomings revealed in previous steps.
7. We humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings. The seventh step is asking the higher power to help let go of those defects of character.
8. We made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all. In step eight, individuals list everyone hurt by addiction and become open to making amends.
9. We made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. The ninth step involves making amends when constructive but avoiding causing further harm.
10. We continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it. The tenth step is continually self-reflecting and admitting when one is wrong moving forward.
11. We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out. Step 11 includes spiritual practices to further connect with a higher power and understand/align with its guidance.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics and to practice these principles in all our affairs. The final step commits to sharing lessons from the program with others suffering from alcoholism and broadly applying the spiritual principles learned.

Getting Started with AA in Indiana

Use the meeting search on udetc.org to find local meetings in your area. Both in-person and online/virtual meetings are available in most places across Indiana.

Attending Your First Local AA Meeting

There are two main types of AA meetings in Indiana:

Open Meetings: Anyone is welcome to attend, including those who are curious about AA. These are good options for first-timers.
Closed Meetings: Only those who have a desire to stop drinking may attend. These can provide more intimacy but are not ideal for your very first meeting.

When attending your first local Indiana AA meeting:

1. Arrive 10-15 minutes early and introduce yourself to some members as a new local person. Explain it’s your first meeting.
2. Listen and share your experiences if you feel comfortable. There is no pressure to speak.

You may receive welcome keychain tags at your first meeting to mark milestones in your sobriety journey, such as:

• 30 days
• 60 days
• 90 days
• 6 months
• 9 months
• 1 year
• 18 months
• Multiple years

The most important things are to listen, learn, find support and fellowship, and determine if AA is right for you. The members will guide you along the process.