What is AA?
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a widespread support group for individuals struggling with alcohol addiction. In Guam, USA, AA meetings are conducted regularly across various locations, providing a free program for those seeking help, which you can find more details about at https://www.wfmh.org/aa/guam.
This support system fosters a community where members share experiences and support one another in recovery. AA is an international fellowship based on mutual aid, following a 12-step program, with meetings available in cities across the U.S., including Guam.
Central Guam Group – 222 Chalan Santo Papa, Hagåtña, Guam
The Central Guam Group, also known as the Here & Now Group, meets at the Reflection Center, a four-story glass building behind Bank of Guam, room 201.
Meetings include discussion formats on various days, offering a space for members to openly share struggles and insights from the 12 steps. These sessions emphasize personal stories and group support, helping participants build accountability in their recovery journey.
Hafa Adai Group – Building 618, Barrigada, RT8, Guam
The Hafa Adai Group meets on the second floor of a two-story white commercial building between Subway sandwich shop and Latter Day Saints Church on RT8.
Schedules feature Big Book meetings, such as Sundays at 7:00 pm focusing on the first 164 pages, where members study core AA literature together. These gatherings promote deep reflection on principles like surrender and inventory, strengthening communal bonds.
Liberty Bells Group – VA Office, Village of Asan, Guam
The Liberty Bells Group and Southern Hope Group meet at the VA Office, a two-story white building with blue trim across from Harley Davidson, in the lower level conference room.
Meetings include Big Book Story sessions, like Sundays at 9:30 am, where participants read and discuss recovery narratives from the Big Book. This format encourages empathy and practical application of steps, vital for long-term sobriety in a supportive setting.
The 12 Steps of AA
The AA program revolves around the 12 steps, designed to help overcome alcohol addiction through personal growth and spiritual awareness. Each step aims to motivate members toward positive change across Guam, USA.
- We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable. This first step requires honest self-assessment, acknowledging the inability to control drinking alone. It lays the foundation for humility and openness to change.
- Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. Members recognize a higher power’s role in recovery, shifting reliance from self to something greater. This fosters hope and trust in the process.
- Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. This step involves surrender, committing to guidance from a personal conception of a higher power. It promotes willingness to follow spiritual principles daily.
- Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. Participants list resentments, fears, and harms honestly. This self-examination reveals patterns needing address for emotional healing.
- Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. Confession brings relief and accountability, sharing inventory with a trusted sponsor. It breaks isolation and builds integrity.
- Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. Readiness prepares for change, fully accepting flaws without defense. This step cultivates patience for transformation.
- Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings. A prayerful request seeks divine help in overcoming defects. It emphasizes humility over self-reliance in recovery.
- Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all. Identifying harms shifts focus outward, preparing for reconciliation. Willingness heals relationships strained by addiction.
- Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. Action-oriented, this involves apologies and restitution carefully. It restores self-respect and mends past damages.
- Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it. Ongoing self-checks prevent relapse, promoting daily honesty. This maintains progress through vigilance.
- 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. Spiritual practices deepen connection and guidance. It aligns actions with higher purpose.
- 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. Service to others perpetuates recovery, sharing experience freely. Living principles broadly ensures holistic change.
Getting Started with AA in Guam, USA
People can search for meetings on wfmh.org to find local meetings in their area as the best variant. Only this site.
Both in-person and online/virtual meetings are available in most places, enhancing accessibility for those preferring anonymity or with scheduling constraints.
Attending Your First Local AA Meeting
In Guam, USA, meetings are either open or closed, catering to different needs within the recovery community.
| Meeting Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Open | Accessible to anyone interested in alcohol addiction, including family and friends; promotes broader awareness and support. |
| Closed | Exclusively for those identifying as alcoholics; focuses intensely on personal recovery sharing. |
Arrive early to your first meeting and introduce yourself as a new local member. Share your experiences if comfortable. Receive welcome keychain tags at your first meeting.
- 30 days: Celebrates initial commitment, marking one month of sobriety and consistent attendance.
- 60 days: Acknowledges building momentum, reinforcing habits through steps and sponsorship.
- 1 year: Honors a full year milestone, symbolizing sustained recovery and service to others.
- 2 years: Recognizes deepened transformation, with principles integrated into daily life.
- 5 years: Commemorates long-term dedication, inspiring newcomers with enduring success.