Sentinel Alcohol DetoxSupport When Detox Ends
The days after detox are often when cravings and old routines return. Regular contact with a support group is one way people get through them.
Meetings work alongside further treatment, not in place of it.
- Talk to your detox team about outpatient, residential or medication follow-up.
- Try different meeting formats in the first weeks: in person, online or by phone.
- Tell one person you trust which meeting you plan to attend.
- Call 911 or go to an emergency room if withdrawal becomes severe.
How the Groups Differ
Drinking problems affect the person and the people around them, and there are groups for both. Below is a plain comparison of the alcohol recovery groups and family groups you can reach from Maryland.
Groups differ in style as well as approach, so trying more than one is common.
- Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) is a twelve-step fellowship for anyone who wants to stop drinking. It is spiritual rather than religious, and members define a higher power in their own way.
- SMART Recovery is a secular program for any addiction. Meetings teach practical tools for managing urges and changing habits, and it also runs Family & Friends meetings.
- Al-Anon Family Groups are for people affected by someone else's drinking, such as partners, parents and adult children. Alateen serves teenagers.
- Recovery Dharma uses meditation and Buddhist principles in peer-led meetings, and members do not need to hold any belief in a god.
- Refuge Recovery is a mindfulness-based program rooted in Buddhist practice, for any addiction.
- Celebrate Recovery is a Christian program hosted by churches, open to people dealing with addiction and other life problems.
- Narcotics Anonymous (N.A.) is a twelve-step fellowship for people who want to stop using any drug, alcohol included. Like A.A., it has a spiritual basis.
- Nar-Anon Family Groups support people whose relative or friend uses drugs, in a twelve-step format.
Official Meeting Finders for Maryland
Peer support groups and mutual-aid programs run their own meetings. The links below go to each organization's official pages for Maryland, where you can search for meetings. We do not list, copy or vouch for individual meetings.
Alcoholics Anonymous
A peer fellowship for people who want to stop drinking.
Narcotics Anonymous
A peer fellowship for people who want to stop using drugs.
SMART Recovery
A science-informed, self-empowering program with in-person and online meetings.
Al-Anon Family Groups
A peer fellowship for relatives and friends of people with a drinking problem.
Nar-Anon Family Groups
A peer fellowship for relatives and friends of people with a drug problem.
Recovery Dharma
A peer-led program that draws on Buddhist practices and principles.
Refuge Recovery
A mindfulness-based recovery community that draws on Buddhist practices.
Celebrate Recovery
A Christ-centered recovery program run through local churches.
Sentinel Alcohol Detox is an independent directory. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Narcotics Anonymous World Services, SMART Recovery, Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Nar-Anon Family Groups, Recovery Dharma, Refuge Recovery World Services, Celebrate Recovery, or any other fellowship or support organisation named on this page, and none of them has reviewed or approved this page. Each link goes to the organisation's own official page, which controls its meeting information. Meetings move, close and change, so confirm the time and place with the source before you go. Links in this section are editorial. They are not paid, sponsored or referral placements, and no treatment provider can pay to be added to or reordered within this section. Support meetings are not a substitute for professional treatment.
If you or someone else is in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). For treatment referral and information, SAMHSA's National Helpline is 1-800-662-4357, free, confidential and open 24 hours a day.
What Happens at a Meeting
Most meetings last about an hour. Someone opens the meeting, there may be a short reading, and then people take turns sharing or a speaker talks.
Meeting finders usually say whether a meeting is open to anyone or closed to people who want to stop drinking or using themselves.
Video and phone meetings follow a similar pattern and can be a low-pressure way to see what a meeting is like.
- Listening without sharing is common, especially at first.
- First names only is the norm.
- There are no dues or fees; any collection is voluntary.
- It is fine to slip in quietly and leave when you need to.
Going to Meetings on Medication
Medications such as naltrexone and acamprosate are recognized treatments for alcohol use disorder. Taking one does not stop you from attending a support meeting.
SMART Recovery says it has welcomed people using legally prescribed medication at its meetings since it began.
In twelve-step fellowships, each group is self-governing. One A.A. or N.A. meeting may discuss medication quite differently from another across town.
- Ask the group contact or area service office about a meeting's attitude toward medication.
- Some meeting lists mark meetings as welcoming to people on medication; check for that label.
- Your medication is private. Sharing about it is your choice.
- If a meeting feels unwelcoming, another group or format may suit you better.
Keep Your Prescriber in the Loop
Changes to a prescribed medication should only be made with the person who prescribes it. This page does not give medical advice.
If a Court Requires Meetings
Courts, probation and diversion programs in Maryland and elsewhere may set a number of meetings to attend. The rules come from your case, not from the groups.
Twelve-step groups such as A.A. and N.A. keep no attendance records for courts. Some meeting chairs will sign a sheet you provide; others decline, and online groups each have their own approach.
- Get the requirement in writing: which groups qualify, how many meetings and the deadline.
- Confirm the form of proof your officer accepts before you start.
- Carry your own attendance sheet and keep a copy of each signed page.
- Ask your officer what to do if a group will not sign.
Not Legal Advice
Only your court or probation officer can tell you whether a meeting counts toward your requirement.
Meetings Are Not Treatment
Peer groups offer support and shared experience. They do not diagnose, prescribe or supervise withdrawal.
Someone who needs medical detox, medication or a full program should speak with a treatment provider; meetings can continue alongside that care.
Our listings cover alcohol treatment programs in Maryland; the map and city pages are just below, or call the number on this page to talk it through.
This number connects to our central helpline, not directly to a listed facility.
Search and Map Facilities in Maryland
Press Search to list facilities in Maryland, or type a city or ZIP code.
Where to Find Alcohol Treatment Programs in Maryland
Pick a city to see the facilities this site lists there.
Support Meeting FAQs for Maryland
Do meetings help after detox?
Many people find regular meetings useful in the weeks after detox, together with follow-up treatment.
How do I know if a meeting is open?
Meeting finders usually label each meeting as open or closed. Open meetings welcome visitors; closed meetings are for people who want to stop drinking or using themselves.
Do online meetings count for a court order?
That depends on your court or probation officer. Check with them, and ask how an online meeting can be verified.
Should I go to treatment or to meetings?
Many people do both. A treatment provider can assess what care you need, and meetings can support you along the way.
What if there is no meeting near me in Maryland?
Online and phone meetings are an option wherever you live in Maryland; the finders on this page include them.
Do I need to pay or sign up?
No payment is needed, and most meetings need no sign-up. You can simply show up or log in.