What is AA?
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a free, community-based support group for individuals struggling with alcohol addiction. Regular AA meetings are held across many cities in Indiana, where members share experiences and encourage one another through recovery. Those interested in joining can find aa meetings indiana to connect with nearby support groups. Meetings are open to anyone seeking help or information about overcoming alcohol dependency, and they foster a confidential, non-judgmental environment for healing and support.
Meeting Locations in Indiana
Indianapolis
AA meetings are widely available in Indianapolis. For instance, the Carvel Club at 4627 Carvel Ave. hosts a Noon Meeting every day, providing a reliable and welcoming setting for ongoing support. The Greenwood United Methodist Church at 525 N Madison Ave. holds a 12 & 12 meeting at 11:30 am every Thursday, focusing on both the 12 Steps and the 12 Traditions central to AA’s philosophy.
Fort Wayne
In Fort Wayne, early risers can join the “Upon Awakening” group online at 6:00 am. This digital meeting is open to all, featuring a discussion-based format that makes participation possible regardless of transportation or scheduling challenges. Online AA meetings in Indiana use platforms like Zoom or Teams, enhancing accessibility statewide.
South Bend
South Bend’s “Saturday Sunrise Group” meets at the Center for the Homeless, 813 S Michigan St., at 6:30 am. This is a closed meeting, intended just for AA members, and its focus is on mutual support and maintaining sobriety through open discussion.
The 12 Steps of AA
The 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous serve as a structured path to spiritual growth and recovery. Each step builds on the last, guiding members toward lasting sobriety and personal transformation.
- Admitted to being powerless over alcohol – Recognizing the inability to control drinking and its negative impact is the essential first step.
- Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity – Encourages faith in a higher power as a source of hope and healing.
- Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him – Involves surrendering personal control for spiritual guidance.
- Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves – Calls for honest self-examination of past actions.
- Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs – Fosters accountability and the sharing of personal inventory with someone trustworthy.
- Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character – Preparing to let go of personal flaws and defects.
- Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings – Requests help from a higher power to improve character.
- Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all – Promotes accountability by acknowledging past harm.
- Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others – Taking corrective action, when appropriate, without causing harm.
- Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it – Encourages ongoing self-reflection and honesty.
- 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 – Advises continued spiritual growth through reflection and prayer.
- 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 – Involves sharing recovery experiences with others and integrating AA principles into daily living.
Getting Started with AA in Indiana, USA
If you’d like to attend an AA meeting in Indiana, several resources can help you find both in-person and online options. Local meeting directories, such as those provided by regional AA websites or the AA national locator, offer up-to-date schedules and locations. Online meetings are ideal for those with scheduling or physical limitations, ensuring that support is available state-wide.
Attending Your First Local AA Meeting
It helps to understand the distinction between open and closed AA meetings before you attend. Open meetings welcome anyone interested in learning about AA—whether you’re seeking help for yourself, supporting a loved one, or simply curious. Closed meetings are exclusively for those who identify as having a desire to stop drinking.
| Meeting Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Open Meetings | Anyone can attend, including friends, family, and community members interested in learning more about AA and recovery. |
| Closed Meetings | Attendance limited to those who have a desire to stop drinking (AA members only). |
When you arrive at your first meeting, consider coming a little early to introduce yourself as a newcomer. You may share your story if you feel comfortable, but there’s no obligation to speak. Newcomers are often welcomed with a keychain tag to mark their first meeting, and tags are also awarded for various sobriety milestones as encouragement—including 30 and 60 days, 1 year, and longer anniversaries.
- 30 Days – Celebrating the completion of the first month sober.
- 60 Days – Recognizing two months of sobriety.
- 1 Year – Marking a full year of recovery.
- 5 Years – A significant long-term sobriety milestone.
- 10 Years, 20 Years, etc. – Honoring extended periods of continuous sobriety.
These milestones highlight personal progress and symbolize the ongoing support AA offers its members throughout their recovery journey.