CA Meetings

Cocaine Anonymous is a fellowship meeting for anyone who wants to stop using cocaine, crack, or other stimulants. CA meetings operate on the same 12-step model as Alcoholics or Narcotics Anonymous, with meetings led by members rather than professionals. Cocaine Anonymous started in Hollywood in 1982, and Britain’s first meeting opened in January 1992 at a Methodist church in central London. The fellowship grew slowly at first, but now has groups in most parts of the country.

CA group meeting at rehab

How do CA meetings work?

CA meetings work on the principle that everyone present shares the same problem. Nobody is there to lecture you or tell you what you should have done differently, with members all committed to helping each other. It doesn’t matter whether you have been using cocaine for six months or twenty years, whether you’ve tried to quit before, or if this is your first attempt; you will be treated the same.

During CA meetings, people take turns talking about their experiences. There’s no cross-talk, which means nobody interrupts or offers advice while someone else is speaking. When it’s your turn, you can share if you want, or you can pass. Some people listen for weeks before speaking, and nobody minds.

Everything shared in the room is confidential, as anonymity is a core principle of CA meetings. This allows people to be honest about things they might never say anywhere else.

What are the key foundations of Cocaine Anonymous?

The CA fellowship programme rests on a few key parts, which are similar to other local support groups:

The 12 steps

The steps provide a framework for recovery that starts with acknowledging you cannot control your cocaine use on your own. From there, the programme moves through examining your past behaviour, recognising the damage done by cocaine addiction, and eventually reaching out to help others still struggling. The steps aren’t rushed, and you work through them at whatever pace feels right, usually with help from a sponsor.

The 12 traditions

The traditions set out how CA fellowship groups function. They keep the fellowship independent, ensure that no single person holds authority, and protect anonymity so that members can speak openly without fear. The traditions also stop CA from getting involved in politics or partnering with outside organisations like cocaine rehab centres. All of this means CA meetings stay solely focused on helping people stop using cocaine.

CA Sponsorship

A sponsor is a CA member who has been through the steps and agrees to walk you through them. They’re the person you call at 2 in the morning when the cravings won’t go away, and who remembers exactly what early recovery felt like. After you have been to a few meetings and got to know people, you can ask someone to sponsor you. If the relationship doesn’t click, you move on and ask someone else.

What are the different types of CA meetings?

Cocaine Anonymous runs several different meeting types, and the right one often depends on what you need. Some suit people who prefer to listen, others work better if you want a clearer programme to follow. Most areas have enough options you can try:

In-person meetings

Most CA meetings take place in community spaces like church halls or community centres. They’re usually informal, with chairs set up in rows or a circle, and they feel more like a community gathering than a medical appointment. In-person meetings are the classic groups you have probably seen on telly and in films, and they are what most members attend.

Online meetings

Since the pandemic, however, online CA meetings have also become a regular option. They follow the same structure as physical meetings and can be easier if you’re not ready to sit in a room full of strangers, or if you live somewhere a bit out of the way.

Open and closed meetings

Open CA fellowship meetings allow anyone to attend, including family members, friends, or people who work in healthcare and want to understand how CA operates. Closed meetings are restricted to people who have a powder or crack cocaine addiction or want to give up drugs. The closed format means people tend to open up more because everyone present knows the struggle personally.

Discussion meetings

These are based around a single topic. Everyone who wants to speak gets a turn, and there is no back-and-forth.

Speaker meetings

A single member talks at length about their addiction and recovery. You can sit back and absorb without any expectation to contribute.

Step meetings

Each meeting examines one of the 12 steps in detail before moving to the next step. This is a great way to make steady progress.

How to approach your first CA meeting

If possible, arrive a few minutes early, because this will give you time to settle in and let someone know you’re new. CA members tend to look out for first-timers and will usually introduce themselves and answer questions.

The meeting will open with some readings, often including a short statement about what CA is and what it isn’t. The chairperson will explain the format, and then people will start introducing themselves by first name. When it reaches you, you can say your name, say you’re just listening, or even say nothing.

Once the meeting wraps up, most people hang around for a cup of tea and a conversation with the other members. That’s usually when phone numbers get exchanged, and you begin to recognise faces that make coming back easier.

What are the benefits of joining CA meetings?

CA fellowship does several things that professional cocaine detox and rehab can’t. Powder and crack cocaine rehab programmes end after a set number of weeks, but CA runs every day, and you can keep attending for as long as you want. Other major benefits of CA meetings include:

No cost to attend CA meetings
No GP referral or waiting list to get started
CA meetings on evenings and weekends when cocaine relapse risk tends to be highest
A ready-made community of people who genuinely understand stimulant addiction
One-to-one guidance through sponsorship
Support that doesn’t stop when your rehab programme does

If you’re also dealing with alcohol addiction, AA meetings may help alongside CA. For other drug problems, NA meetings cover all substances, and many people attend more than one fellowship.

How to find a CA meeting near you

Cocaine Anonymous UK maintains a meeting directory at cocaineanonymous.org.uk. You can search by location and filter by day, time, and whether meetings are open or closed. Online meetings are listed separately and run throughout the week.

If you’ve been through drug rehab or drug detox, the staff may have already recommended specific local meetings. Recovery.org.uk can also help you find CA meetings and connect you with treatment options. If you have questions about what to expect or want advice on the right next step, reach out through our contact us page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is CA religious?

The 12 steps mention a “higher power,” but CA isn’t tied to any religion. Many members interpret the higher power as the group itself, as nature, or simply as something beyond their own understanding or willpower. The programme asks for openness, not faith in any particular god.

Can family members come with me to a CA meeting?

They can attend open meetings, which welcome anyone curious about how CA works. Closed CA meetings are restricted to people who identify as having an addiction themselves. If you want moral support for your first visit, look for an open meeting and bring whoever you need.

What happens if I see someone I know at a meeting?

You’re both there for the same reason, which usually makes it less awkward than you’d expect. Anonymity works both ways, and neither of you is supposed to mention seeing the other outside the room. Most people find it reassuring rather than embarrassing, because it proves they’re not the only one dealing with this.