Online and virtual recovery meetings

Online AA meetings are run by individual groups and service bodies, and they follow the same formats as in-person meetings: speaker meetings, topic discussions, step studies, and beginner meetings. They run at nearly every hour, which makes them practical across time zones.

The AA Online Intergroup maintains an independently operated directory of virtual AA meetings, listed by day and time. Local groups increasingly publish a hybrid option as well, so the same group meets in person and online at the same time.

Virtual NA hosts online NA meetings throughout the day, with listings by day and time zone. As with AA, many local NA groups now list a virtual alternative alongside their in-person schedule.

Because meetings are run by individual groups rather than one central platform, the way a meeting handles access links and participant identity can differ. Asking how a meeting works before you share anything personal is entirely reasonable.

Video meetings are the most common online format and usually require a link or meeting ID to join. Many groups use platforms that allow you to join with a first name only and your camera off.

Telephone-based meetings, including conference-call meetings and recovery hotlines staffed by volunteers, remain available for people without reliable internet access. Where we can verify a phone-based meeting we list it; where we cannot, we say so rather than guess.

Start with the fellowship's own resources and directories run by recognized intergroups or service bodies. These are operated by the communities they serve rather than by commercial lead-generation companies.

Be cautious with a "meeting" page that asks for your phone number before showing anything, promises a specific outcome, or pushes a particular paid facility. Genuine meetings are free and open to anyone.

Anonymity online depends on the platform. Some show a participant list, some record sessions for members who miss them, and some are open to anyone with the link. Ask before you share anything you would not want repeated.

A few practical defaults: use a first name only, keep your camera off until you are comfortable, avoid sharing your location or workplace, and treat what you hear the same way you would in a room — as confidential.

Join a couple of minutes early so you are not arriving mid-sentence. Mute yourself by default and unmute when you want to speak. If you would rather not talk, using the chat to say you are new is a perfectly good first step.

Save the link for any meeting you liked, and put the next one in your calendar the way you would any appointment. Repetition is what turns a link into a routine.