Online addiction meetings have become a regular part of how people in recovery stay connected. Most major fellowships now run them alongside in-person meetings as standard.
Whether you attend meetings yourself or you’re trying to understand what someone in your life gets from theirs, there are many advantages to online meetings.
Online addiction meetings work differently from being in a room with other people. Joining from home is easier, but building real connections may be more difficult at first.
Understanding the benefits and possible limitations of online meetings can help you decide which format is right for you, or whether a mix may suit you best.
How online addiction meetings work
Online meetings follow the same format as in-person ones. Newcomers are welcomed, there are readings, and people share their story while the rest of the group listens. Most online addiction meetings use Zoom and run for about an hour.
Some are open meetings, which anyone can join, and others are closed meetings, which are only for people who want to stop drinking or using drugs.
Attending 12 Step online is straightforward, as all you need to do is click a link to join. Once you’re in, you can share if you want to or simply listen. That’s part of why so many people who first tried online meetings during the pandemic kept going after restrictions lifted.
All the main fellowships offer online meetings. AA online meetings are the most widely available, and Narcotics Anonymous and SMART Recovery run them too, using the same programmes that people have followed in person for decades.
12-Steps in recovery
You can read more about the role of the 12 Steps in recovery.
What does the evidence say about online addiction meetings?
A large US study followed more than 1,100 adults with alcohol use disorders for a year. People who only went to online meetings did better than people who went to none, but they were about half as likely to stay sober as people who went in person. Those who mixed online and in-person meetings had caught up by 12 months.
The difference came down to involvement, such as having a sponsor, sharing in meetings, or helping to run them. People who did all of these had almost four times the odds of staying sober, whatever the format.
Studies looking into online mutual-help groups also found that online meetings may be especially sought out by people who are newer to recovery and in more need of support.
Research broadly supports addiction meetings online and virtual treatment in general. Research into telemedicine for substance use disorders found that therapy and medication appointments by video are an effective alternative to in-person treatment, especially when other care is hard to reach.
Benefits of online addiction meetings
- You can attend from anywhere. Transport, childcare, mobility, and work schedules stop being barriers.
- You can find an online 12 Step meeting the same day you need one, sometimes within hours.
- If you’re new to recovery, you can join with your camera off. That lowers the barrier of walking into a room full of strangers.
- In small communities where anonymity is a concern, you can attend meetings outside your local area.
Limitations to be aware of
There are some perceived disadvantages of online meetings – research papers found that reduced connectedness, fewer opportunities to give and receive support, technology barriers, and more frequent disruptions were consistent concerns across different types of users.
- It can be harder to feel connected to people on a screen than in a room with them.
- Distractions at home make it easy to only half-listen.
- You miss the informal contact around a meeting, like a coffee afterwards or someone offering you a lift home.
- Technology can get in the way, especially for older members.
- It can be harder to spot when someone is in crisis, because you can’t see how they look when they arrive.
Hybrid and combined approaches
Some people combine virtual 12 Step meetings with in-person attendance. Research supports tailoring the mix of in-person and online services to each person’s circumstances, rather than prescribing one format for everyone.
The right balance can also change in either direction as your recovery goes on, so what suits you now may not be what you need in six months’ time.
If you mostly meet online, getting more involved may help. That could mean finding a sponsor, sharing in meetings, keeping in touch with people between meetings, or taking on a role in the group.
“You have to have faith in the recovery process – doing what is suggested […] when you accept that you are an addict, or an alcoholic, then you start to listen […] so please open your ears. Acceptance is key.”
When online support alone may not be enough
Online support might not reach everyone equally; some groups – including people who are homeless, older people, and people with cannabis use disorders – still need more attention.
These are signs you might need more than online meetings can give you:
- Your use is escalating despite regular attendance
- You’re attending but not sharing or connecting with anyone
- You feel more isolated after meetings rather than less
- Someone in your life has raised concerns about how things are going
For some conditions, particularly alcohol and opioid dependence, medication is an important part of treatment that meetings alone can’t provide. Your GP can talk you through the options.
How Castle Health supports recovery alongside online meetings
Online meetings can be a strong part of your recovery, especially alongside professional support that’s tailored to you.
Castle Health offers outpatient addiction treatment that fits around your daily life, including your meetings. Whether you attend online, in person, or a mix of both, treatment works with whatever format suits you.
Our treatment programmes draw on the 12 Step approach alongside other therapeutic methods. Residential treatment is also available for people who need more intensive care.
Recovery coaching gives you regular one-to-one support from someone who knows your situation, so you have someone to talk to between meetings.
Recovery doesn’t stop when treatment finishes. Our long-term aftercare support continues for as long as you need it.
Judgement-free advice, no commitment
Recovery looks different for everyone. Explore how Castle Health approaches treatment as an individual, long-term process.
If someone you know attends online addiction meetings
From the outside, it can be hard to tell whether online meetings are helping. You might only see someone at their laptop for an hour, with no group around them and no obvious sign of progress. But the meetings may be helping more than you can see.
If you’d like to know how they’re finding it, ask how it’s going and let them share as much as they want to. Try to give them privacy during meetings too, as the other people on the call are relying on anonymity.
If their use is getting worse and you’re worried, you can read about how to support someone in recovery or speak to Castle Health’s team for guidance.
Frequently asked questions about online addiction meetings
What are the best platforms for online addiction meetings?
Zoom is the most widely used platform for online recovery meetings. Some groups use phone conferencing for people who prefer audio only. AA, NA, and SMART Recovery all list their online meetings on their own websites with joining instructions.
How can I join an online addiction support group in the UK?
Several organisations run online meetings that you can join from the UK:
- Alcoholics Anonymous UK online meetings
- Narcotics Anonymous
- SMART Recovery International
- Adfam (support for families)
Most meetings are free and open to anyone.
Where can I find confidential online addiction meetings for alcohol?
AA UK’s online meeting directory lists meetings by type, including closed meetings for people who want to stop drinking. All AA meetings, online or in person, follow the same principle of anonymity, and members are asked to keep who they see and what they hear private. Online, you can also keep your camera off and use only your first name.
If you’re thinking about trying an online meeting, or wondering what else is out there, here are a few places to start.
- Read about the role of the 12 Steps in recovery to understand how the programme works
- Explore how to support someone in recovery if you’re here on behalf of someone in your life
- Get in touch with Castle Health, with no pressure to decide anything yet
- Find an online meeting through one of the directories above
Whenever you’re ready, Castle Health is here.
