Online 12 Step Meetings: Do they Help?

When you are considering a 12 Step meeting addiction treatment program, it is important to make sure that you have access to the treatment that you need. 12 Step treatment programs are a community based addiction treatment programs that believe that addicts are the best people to help other addicts. This type of addiction treatment has been in practice since the 1930s when the first Alcoholics Anonymous group was formed. As an organization, 12 Step programs have kept up with the times, offer both online and email support. One of these support options is an online meeting.

What is an Online 12 Step Meeting?

An online 12 Step meeting is a chat room meeting conducted the same way that real life meetings are. There is a chairperson or operator that opens the chat with the same prayers and greetings as is traditional. The only difference in the meeting is the forum that it is held in.

They offer:

Online 12 step meetings are more anonymous, in that you don’t have to disclose your real name.

• Big Book Meetings
• Welcome or First Time Meetings
• Sharing Meetings
• Speaker’s Meetings

These are scheduled meetings for anyone in a 12 Step group to attend. Some groups have specific chat programs or websites that they use while others use web based chat. It just depends on the group. To get into your online meeting you simply register and log in. Most chat meetings do not require much information to register in the tradition of keeping things anonymous.

Who Attends Online 12 Step Meetings?

The people who attend live in person 12 Step meetings also attend 12 Step online meetings. Other groups that attend them are:

• those that are house bound
• those that cannot come to a specific meeting
• those that travel or cannot attend a regular meeting group
• those that have a medical condition or are in the hospital and need a meeting
• anyone else who needs a little extra help and support

Some online 12 Step meetings are group specific while others are for anyone who needs a 12 Step meeting.

Why use an Online 12 Step Meeting?

There are many reasons why you would want to attend an online 12 Step meeting. The first is that many people, who like the concept of anonymous addiction treatment, get the true anonymity of the internet. They do not have to use their real name or real phone number in order to go to a meeting, nor do they require face to face meeting in the community that they live in.

There are people who do not want to be associated with their addiction even to other addicts in the community. Sometimes they have a job that is high profile such as judge, doctor, or police officer, or sometimes they have a tight knit neighborhood where they are easily recognized going into and out of meetings.

12 Step Online Community

Finding 12 Step Treatment Programs Online and Off

You can find 12 Step programs both online and off by calling 1-800-895-1695. We can help you find the right 12 Step program for you.