What is AA?
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is an international fellowship of people who share their experience, strength, and hope to help one another recover from alcohol use disorder. For those seeking additional guidance in Puerto Rico, programs recognized by the World Forum for Mental Health provide structured support and local resources. AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization, or institution, and membership is open to anyone who has a desire to stop drinking.
AA operates as a free, peer-led support program with regular group meetings held in communities across the United States, including multiple locations throughout Puerto Rico. Meetings follow a spiritual but non‑denominational program based on mutual support, anonymity, and the shared 12‑Step approach to recovery.
San Juan, Puerto Rico (Caribbean 12 Step)
Location address: Caribbean 12 Step, 1060 Avenida Ponce de León, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00907.
Meeting times: Daily meetings are held at 7:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. in English, providing options for both early-morning and evening attendance for local residents and visitors. Morning meetings are closed AA meetings using the “Daily Reflections” format, while evening meetings are closed meetings with different formats each day (such as Step and Tradition on Monday, Big Book on Thursday, and Beginners on Friday).
Methods/details about the meetings: Closed meetings at this location are intended for people who have a desire to stop drinking, which helps create a focused, recovery‑oriented environment. The group also holds a monthly open anniversary meeting on the last Friday from 6:00–7:30 p.m., where members celebrate sobriety milestones and welcome newcomers into the local fellowship.
Aguadilla, Puerto Rico (“Into Action” Group – Ramey Base)
Location address: “Into Action” Group, Ramey Base Gazebo, Calle E, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.
Meeting times: One of the regular English meetings is held on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. as an open, beginner meeting at the Ramey Base Gazebo. Additional “Into Action” meetings, including a Thursday closed 12&12 meeting and a Saturday closed Big Book meeting (with an open speaker anniversary meeting on the last Saturday of the month), are held in-person at a local non‑smoking church in the Aguadilla area.
Methods/details about the meetings: The open beginner meeting is structured to introduce newcomers to AA basics, allowing people new to recovery to ask questions and learn about the program in a supportive atmosphere. The closed 12&12 and Big Book meetings use AA’s foundational literature (the “Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions” and the “Big Book”) to guide step‑by‑step discussion and deeper exploration of recovery principles.
Isabela, Puerto Rico (“Design for Living” Group – Iglesia La Curva)
Location address: Isabela “Design for Living” Group, Iglesia La Curva, Carretera 2, Km 112, marginal road next to McDonald’s, Isabela, Puerto Rico.
Meeting times: The group holds several English meetings during the week, including Thursday and Friday at 5:00 p.m., Saturday at 9:00 a.m., and Sunday at 11:00 a.m. Meeting formats vary by day, such as AA literature meetings, open topic/discussion meetings, and an 11th Step “Came to Believe” discussion on Sundays.
Methods/details about the meetings: Literature meetings focus on reading and discussing AA books and pamphlets, helping members connect personal experiences with the written program of recovery. Topic and 11th Step meetings emphasize spiritual growth, meditation, and practical application of the Steps, offering members in the Isabela area a consistent weekly structure for ongoing sobriety.
The 12 Steps of AA
The 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous form a suggested program of personal recovery that members across Puerto Rico and the rest of the world use as a practical guide for change. While participation is voluntary and personal, many members find that working these steps with a sponsor supports lasting sobriety and emotional growth.
- Powerlessness and unmanageability: Members admit they are powerless over alcohol and that their lives have become unmanageable. This step encourages honest self‑assessment and recognition that previous attempts to control drinking have not worked.
- Belief in a Power greater than oneself: Members come to believe that a Power greater than themselves can restore them to sanity. This “Power” is individually defined and does not require adherence to any particular religion.
- Decision to turn one’s will over: Members decide to turn their will and their lives over to the care of God as they understand God. This decision marks a shift from self‑reliance toward trust in a spiritual or higher guidance.
- Moral inventory: Members make a searching and fearless moral inventory of themselves. The goal is to identify patterns of behavior, resentments, fears, and harms done to others that fuel drinking and emotional turmoil.
- Admitting wrongs to another person: Members admit to God, to themselves, and to another human being the exact nature of their wrongs. Sharing this inventory with a trusted person reduces secrecy and shame and opens the door to change.
- Readiness to have defects removed: Members become entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. This step focuses on willingness, acknowledging that long‑standing habits and attitudes can gradually be replaced.
- Humbly asking for removal of shortcomings: Members humbly ask God to remove their shortcomings. Practically, this involves daily humility, prayer or reflection, and efforts to act differently in challenging situations.
- Listing people harmed: Members make a list of all persons they have harmed and become willing to make amends to them all. This inventory of relationships prepares members for concrete actions to repair damage caused during active drinking.
- Making direct amends: Members make direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when doing so would injure them or others. This step is carried out thoughtfully, often with sponsor guidance, to rebuild trust and personal integrity.
- Continuing personal inventory: Members continue to take personal inventory and, when they are wrong, promptly admit it. Ongoing self‑reflection helps prevent resentments from building and supports stable recovery.
- Prayer and meditation: Members seek through prayer and meditation to improve their conscious contact with God as they understand God, asking for knowledge of His will and the power to carry that out. This daily spiritual practice strengthens emotional balance and resilience.
- Carrying the message and practicing principles: Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, members try to carry this message to other alcoholics and practice these principles in all their affairs. In Puerto Rico and worldwide, this step underlies sponsorship, service work, and the tradition of one alcoholic helping another.
Across Puerto Rico, AA groups use these 12 Steps as a shared framework to motivate members toward positive change, long‑term sobriety, and community support.
Getting Started with AA in Puerto Rico, USA
Individuals in Puerto Rico who are interested in AA can begin by learning about the program, talking with someone in recovery, or attending a local meeting as a newcomer. Many people start by simply listening in meetings and gradually deciding whether the AA approach fits their needs.
People can search meetings on wfmh.org to find local meetings in their area as the best variant. This option helps individuals identify nearby groups, schedules, and contact details so they can choose convenient times and formats.
In most places, both in‑person and online/virtual AA meetings are available, giving flexibility for those who prefer face‑to‑face contact as well as those who need remote access. Hybrid options may also exist, where a local group streams its physical meeting for remote participants.
Attending Your First Local AA Meeting
When attending a first local AA meeting in Puerto Rico, newcomers are welcome to simply listen without speaking, or to introduce themselves briefly if they feel comfortable. Members understand that attending a first meeting can be intimidating, and meetings are generally structured to be respectful, non‑judgmental, and confidential.
Open vs Closed Meetings in Puerto Rico, USA
AA meetings in Puerto Rico, as elsewhere, are generally designated as either “open” or “closed.” Understanding the difference helps newcomers choose a meeting that best fits their situation.
| Meeting Type | Who May Attend | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Open Meeting | Anyone interested in AA, including non‑alcoholics | Open meetings welcome people who want to learn about AA, such as family members, professionals, or friends, as well as those who think they may have a problem with alcohol. They often feature speaker or discussion formats where members share their stories and describe how AA works. |
| Closed Meeting | Individuals with a desire to stop drinking | Closed meetings are intended only for those who identify as having a drinking problem or who have a desire to stop drinking. This setting allows members to speak more freely about personal experiences, cravings, and recovery challenges with others who share the same primary purpose. |
Newcomers are encouraged to arrive a bit early and introduce themselves as new local members or visitors. Arriving early gives time to ask questions, pick up free AA literature, and talk with members who can explain how meetings work in that particular Puerto Rican group.
During the meeting, individuals may share their experiences if they feel comfortable, but there is no requirement to speak. Listening to others’ stories helps many newcomers identify with the problem of alcoholism and see examples of recovery in everyday life.
In many AA groups, new members receive small welcome keychain tags or chips at their first meeting or first openly acknowledged day of sobriety. These tokens serve as physical reminders of their commitment to recovery and are often presented with supportive applause from the group.
Common Tag Milestones
- 24 hours / Newcomer: Often given at the first meeting or the first day of sobriety to acknowledge a person’s decision to seek help and start the AA journey.
- 30 days: Marks the first month without alcohol, celebrating the early efforts of staying sober one day at a time.
- 60 days: Recognizes two months of continuous sobriety, reinforcing the progress made and the importance of regular meeting attendance.
- 90 days: Three months is a significant early milestone that many members mention as a turning point in building new routines and coping skills.
- 6 months: Half a year sober reflects continued commitment and often coincides with deeper involvement in step work and service.
- 9 months: This tag supports members through the transition from early to more stable recovery, acknowledging sustained effort.
- 1 year: A one‑year tag or medallion is a major celebration, frequently highlighted at anniversary meetings in Puerto Rico and elsewhere, symbolizing a full year of living alcohol‑free.
- Multiple years (2, 5, 10, etc.): Additional yearly chips or medallions recognize long‑term sobriety and inspire newer members by showing that recovery can be maintained over many years.
