National Addiction Treatment CentersWhich Group Fits You
There is more than one kind of recovery meeting. Some follow twelve steps, some use secular tools, some draw on faith or meditation, and some exist for relatives. Each of them holds meetings that people in Illinois can join.
No group is right for everyone. Many people try a few kinds of meetings before they find one that suits them.
- A.A. (Alcoholics Anonymous) is for people who want to stop drinking. It is a twelve-step program with a spiritual basis, and each member defines a higher power for themselves. It is for the person in recovery.
- N.A. (Narcotics Anonymous) is for people who want to stop using drugs, including alcohol. It is a twelve-step program with a spiritual basis. It is for the person in recovery.
- SMART Recovery is for people with any substance use or addictive behavior. It is secular and uses tools drawn from cognitive behavioral and motivational approaches. It is for the person in recovery, with separate meetings for family and friends.
- Al-Anon is for relatives and friends of someone with a drinking problem. It is a twelve-step program with a spiritual basis, and Alateen is for younger members. It is for family and friends.
- Nar-Anon is for relatives and friends of someone with a drug problem. It is a twelve-step program with a spiritual basis. It is for family and friends.
- Recovery Dharma is for people with any addiction. It is peer-led and draws on Buddhist meditation and practice, and no belief in a god is required. It is for the person in recovery.
- Refuge Recovery is for people with any addiction. It is mindfulness-based and draws on Buddhist practice. It is for the person in recovery.
- Celebrate Recovery is for people with addiction and other struggles. It is Christian and Christ-centered and meets in local churches. It is for the person in recovery, and many groups welcome family members.
Your First Meeting
Open meetings welcome anyone, including family, friends and people who are simply curious. Closed meetings are only for people who share the group's purpose, such as wanting to stop drinking or using.
At a speaker meeting, one or two people tell their own story. At a discussion meeting, members take turns talking about a topic or a reading. Some meetings study the program's book or steps.
Many groups also meet online or by phone, which can help if you live far from a meeting, work unusual hours or want to try a meeting from home first.
- You do not have to speak. You can say you would rather listen, or simply pass.
- You do not have to give your full name.
- Meetings are free to attend. Many pass a basket for voluntary contributions, and you do not have to give.
- Arriving a few minutes early is fine, and so is leaving early.
Official Meeting Finders for Illinois
Peer support groups and mutual-aid programs run their own meetings. The links below go to each organization's official pages for Illinois, 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.
National Addiction Treatment Centers 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.
Medication-Friendly Meetings
Plenty of people go to meetings while taking a prescribed medication for addiction. What matters is finding a group where you are comfortable.
SMART Recovery supports legally prescribed addiction medication, according to its own published position.
Twelve-step meetings vary, because every group decides its own customs, so it is worth asking before you go.
- Phone or message the group contact listed on the meeting finder and ask how members on medication are received.
- Online meeting lists sometimes have a filter or tag for medication-friendly meetings.
- Nobody at a meeting needs to know what you take.
- Going with someone who already attends can make the first visit easier.
About Your Medication
Talk to your prescriber before changing how you take any medication. This is general information, not medical advice.
Attendance Slips and Court Requirements
Some people come to meetings because a judge or probation officer requires it. That is common, and open meetings welcome them like anyone else.
Signing an attendance slip is up to each group and whoever leads the meeting. Twelve-step groups have no link to the court system.
- Find out exactly what your order or program asks for.
- Check whether online meetings count and how they can be verified.
- Keep your own log of dates, times and meeting names.
- Raise any problem with proof of attendance with your officer early.
Your Requirements
This page cannot give legal advice. Follow the instructions of your court or probation officer.
Meetings Plus Treatment
Support meetings help many people stay on track, but they are not treatment. They do not provide medical care, medication or a treatment plan.
If you or someone close to you needs detox, medication or a structured program, a treatment provider can assess which level of care fits. Many people go to meetings during and after treatment.
This site lists addiction treatment centers in Illinois. See the map and city pages below, or call the number on this page to talk through options.
This number connects to our central helpline, not directly to a listed facility.
Search and Map Facilities in Illinois
Press Search to list facilities in Illinois, or type a city or ZIP code.
Where to Find Addiction Treatment Centers in Illinois
Pick a city to see the facilities this site lists there.
Support Meeting FAQs for Illinois
What if I am not spiritual?
You have options. SMART Recovery uses practical, non-spiritual tools, and many twelve-step members interpret the higher power idea in their own way, or not at all.
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 I need to stop my medication to attend?
No. Meetings do not ask you to stop a prescribed medication. Any change should be decided with your prescriber, not at a meeting.
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 Illinois?
Online and phone meetings are an option wherever you live in Illinois; the finders on this page include them.