Sentinel Alcohol DetoxThe First Weeks After Detox
Leaving detox can feel like a big change in routine. Meetings give the day some structure and put you among people who have been through the same thing.
A detox stay is short, so many programs help arrange what comes next before you leave.
- Before discharge, ask what follow-up care your detox program can set up for you.
- Online meetings are an option on days when getting to a room is hard.
- Write down a few meeting times for the coming week so the decision is already made.
- Seek medical care at once if withdrawal symptoms come back or worsen.
Before You Go to a Meeting
Check the meeting type first. An open meeting suits a first visit or a family member; a closed meeting is for people who share the group's goal.
Formats differ: a speaker shares a story, a discussion goes around the room, or a study group reads together.
If an in-person room feels like too much, an online or phone meeting lets you try from home.
- Nobody will make you talk.
- You can stay anonymous.
- No payment is expected.
- Arrive or leave when it suits you.
How the Groups Differ
For many people in Michigan, support meetings are part of staying sober after detox. This page starts with the groups many people try after detox (A.A., SMART Recovery and, for families, Al-Anon) and then covers the others that meet in person and online.
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.
Where to Look Up Meetings in Michigan
Peer support groups and mutual-aid programs run their own meetings. The links below go to each organization's official pages for Michigan, 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.
If a Court Requires Meetings
Courts, probation and diversion programs in Michigan 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.
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.
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 Michigan; 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 Michigan
Press Search to list facilities in Michigan, or type a city or ZIP code.
Where to Find Alcohol Treatment Programs in Michigan
Pick a city to see the facilities this site lists there.
Support Meetings in Michigan: Questions
Should I go to meetings right after detox?
Many people start going to meetings in the first days after detox, alongside the next step in care that their treatment team suggests.
Can family members go to a meeting?
Yes. Al-Anon and Nar-Anon are for relatives and friends, SMART Recovery runs family and friends meetings, and anyone can attend an open A.A. or N.A. meeting.
What is the difference between an open and a closed meeting?
Anyone can attend an open meeting, including family and friends. A closed meeting is only for people who share the group's purpose, such as wanting to stop drinking or using.
Will a meeting sign my court attendance slip?
Some groups will and some will not; each group decides. Ask your court or probation officer what proof of attendance they accept before you go.
Are support meetings the same as treatment?
No. Meetings are peer support and do not provide medical care. Many people use both, going to meetings during and after treatment.
Are there online meetings in Michigan?
Yes. Most of the organizations linked on this page list online or phone meetings as well as in-person ones, so you can join from anywhere in Michigan.