No one should travel through recovery alone. For many people, support from others who understand the struggles that accompany addiction and mental health challenges is often the greatest help in creating a lasting and satisfying life of sobriety.
The Atlanta metro area and suburbs contain a vast array of peer-led and community-based support groups, recovery meetings, and other types of support to help people at any stage of their recovery journey. Use this resource guide to search for available AA meetings, NA meetings, SMART Recovery meetings, and mental health support groups in Atlanta for yourself or a loved one.
Why Support Groups Matter in Recovery
Stopping the use of a substance and managing symptoms is only a small part of the overall recovery process from addiction and mental health issues. The recovery process also involves rebuilding one’s self-image and identity, mending relationships with others, learning new coping skills, and developing a community of people who have had similar experiences.
Support groups offer opportunities to do all of these things.
Social connections create one of the strongest protective factors against relapse, according to research.[1] As recovering individuals share their past experiences with those who have faced or are facing similar challenges, shame diminishes, isolation lifts, and recovery appears less overwhelming. The significant impact that social connection can have on recovery has been documented through many decades of addiction treatment research.
For many people, support groups provide the bridge that connects continuing treatment services with the longer-term wellness of the individual in recovery — offering ongoing community and support long after the more intense phases of early treatment have passed.
Support Groups and Recovery Meetings in Atlanta
1. Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a worldwide organization and the most well-known type of recovery support program available, and the AA community in Atlanta is one of the largest and most active in the southeastern United States, with continuously scheduled recovery meetings on a near 24/7 basis, year-round, throughout the Atlanta metro area and city center.
AA meetings follow the 12-step framework by sharing individual stories, working the steps with the support of a sponsor, and building a bonded community of individuals dedicated to achieving sobriety. There are generally three types of AA meetings: open, closed, and speaker meetings. Open meetings are open to anyone who wants to learn about or support an individual’s recovery, while closed meetings are only for individuals for whom alcohol is an issue.
Virtual recovery meetings have continued to increase since 2020. AA has become familiar with conducting virtual recovery meetings due to individuals’ busy work schedules, transportation issues, and a general comfort level with remote participation. Both the AA website and the Intergroup of Atlanta website list in-person and virtual AA meeting times and locations.
2. Narcotics Anonymous
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is similar to AA in that NA meetings follow a 12-step format and are peer-led. NA differs from AA due to its focus on all types of addiction experiences, not just those caused by alcohol use. The NA community is well-established in Atlanta and is very supportive of individuals seeking recovery from substance use.
NA meetings offer members the same basic structure as AA — the opportunity to share their experience, the opportunity to have accountability, the opportunity to have a supportive community, and the opportunity to work through the steps of their recovery with the support of each other.
The NA website provides the most current list of locations and times for both in-person and virtual recovery meetings throughout Georgia.
3. SMART Recovery Atlanta
SMART Recovery (Self-Management and Recovery Training) is a science-based alternative to 12-step programs. SMART Recovery uses tools and concepts from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT, an evidence-based therapy that focuses on helping people identify and change unhelpful behaviors), as well as other evidence-based approaches, to give people the tools they need to manage cravings, create motivation, and maintain a balanced lifestyle during their recovery from addiction.
SMART Recovery meetings are facilitated by trained facilitators rather than peers who share their experience, giving the meetings a very different feel than an AA or NA meeting. SMART Recovery meetings are available to anyone struggling with any type of addiction, regardless of whether that addiction is substance-use-related or behavioral, like gambling, shopping, or eating disorders.
In Atlanta, SMART Recovery meetings are held regularly and can also be found online through SMART Recovery’s website for individuals who prefer to participate remotely. SMART Recovery is a good option for those who do not connect with the spiritual aspects of 12-step programs or who simply prefer a more structured, skills-based recovery support system.
4. Refuge Recovery
Refuge Recovery offers a mindfulness-based recovery program rooted in Buddhist principles. Refuge Recovery does not involve a higher power; rather, mindfulness — the practice of being aware of the present moment without judgment of your thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and the people and environment around you — serves as the basis of recovery.
Refuge Recovery meetings consist of sharing experiences and supporting each other through group discussions and personal connections, and may be preferable for those seeking a contemplative approach to recovery or a non-spiritual path. There is a significant Refuge Recovery presence in the Atlanta metro area, with many meetings offered across the region. The Refuge Recovery website can assist with finding a meeting location in Georgia and offers options for virtually attending these meetings.
5. NAMI Support Groups
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has multiple types of support groups available. NAMI support groups focus primarily on mental health rather than addiction; however, there is significant overlap between those two areas, and NAMI support groups are open to anyone dealing with both.
NAMI Connections support groups are peer-led and provide support and connection among adults facing mental health challenges. This type of support group is available throughout the Atlanta metro area, including Marietta, Decatur, and others.
NAMI Family Support Groups provide support and assistance to family members and caregivers of persons experiencing mental health challenges. NAMI Family Support Groups give family members an opportunity to express their experiences, share practical tips, and support one another. This can be particularly helpful to families of loved ones struggling with either addiction or mental health challenges.
NAMI also has programs available for young adults and has created resources for LGBTQ+ individuals who may be in need of mental health services. For the most up-to-date information on NAMI support groups, visit the NAMI Georgia website.
6. Other Support Groups in Metro Atlanta
In addition to the major programs mentioned above, the support group community in Atlanta includes many specialized options for people with specific needs.
Eating disorder support groups are available through the Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness, which has peer support groups across Georgia for both those experiencing eating disorders and their family members.
DBT skills groups, which are based on dialectical behavior therapy (a form of talk therapy that helps manage intense feelings and behaviors), are available through some outpatient providers throughout the metro Atlanta area and may be useful for people with intense emotions, self-harming behaviors, or borderline personality disorder, as well as other mental health conditions and substance use.
LGBTQ+-specific support groups are offered by multiple organizations throughout the metro area for those recovering from substance use looking for support from people who share their identities.
Peer support specialists offer support by people with lived experience of addiction and mental health challenges, trained to assist others in their recovery. These specialists are available through several community mental health organizations throughout metro Georgia and can help connect people to appropriate support groups and community resources.
How To Find Support Groups in Atlanta
Finding the right support group may involve some trial and error, and that is normal. Different formats, philosophies, and communities resonate with different people, and the most important thing is that you find a support group where you truly feel a sense of community.
Some good resources for finding recovery meetings and support groups in Atlanta include:
- The AA Intergroup of Atlanta website lists all AA meetings by week and neighborhood for both in-person and virtual meetings.
- The NA World Services website has a meeting locator to help you find NA meetings throughout Georgia, including Atlanta.
- SMART Recovery has a meeting finder for both in-person and virtual meetings in Atlanta.
- NAMI Georgia lists all NAMI support groups across Georgia, including those in metro Atlanta.
You may also contact your treatment team if you are currently in or considering a treatment program. They can connect you to support groups based on your specific needs and situation.
Support Groups and Professional Treatment: A Powerful Combination
Support groups are an important piece of recovery, but they are most effective when used in combination with professional treatment rather than as a substitute for it. Many people who struggle with mental health and substance use disorders achieve the most positive outcomes when evidence-based clinical services are paired with ongoing peer support.
At Marietta Springs, our clinical staff uses a variety of evidence-based approaches, including CBT, DBT, and motivational enhancement therapy, to help each individual build the skills and insight required for lasting recovery — skills that support groups help you reinforce day after day.
If you or someone close to you is ready to take the first step toward recovery, reach out to Marietta Springs today to find out how we can help you achieve your recovery goals.
