Key takeaway
East Bay Intergroup answers (510) 839-8900 in English and (510) 502-8560 in Spanish, 24 hours a day. Members who have dealt with their own drinking staff the lines. The bookstore is at 3989 Howe Street, Oakland, at the side door with the green bell, Monday 5 to 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 9 to 2.
Last updated: 2026-10-05
East Bay Intergroup answers (510) 839-8900 in English and (510) 502-8560 in Spanish, 24 hours a day. Members who have dealt with their own drinking staff the lines. The bookstore is at 3989 Howe Street, Oakland, at the side door with the green bell, Monday 5 to 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 9 to 2.
If you are scared of the first hour, that feeling is ordinary.
If the night turns medical, call 911 when someone is overdosing, seizing, not breathing, or cannot be woken. If you might hurt yourself, call or text 988. Come back to a meeting when you are safe.
The phone, then the room
Call (510) 839-8900 or open eastbayaa.org. The office phone is (510) 543-0196. The mailing address is 4096 Piedmont Avenue, Box 407, Oakland, CA 94611. Hard of hearing callers can call 711 and ask for (510) 839-8900. The meetings link on the site includes a newcomer list.
One meeting you can name
Use the newcomer list on the East Bay site, or ask the helpline for a group that starts soon in Oakland. The bookstore on Howe Street is a place to get a book and see a person during those short hours. It is not a 24-hour club. San Francisco's helpline is a different number. If your meeting is in Oakland, stay on the 510 line.
NA in the East Bay answers (510) 444-4673. If you need NA, use that number and naalamedacounty.org. The Howe Street bookstore is A.A.
You can just listen
Bring a dollar if you have one, and do not worry if you do not. The basket is voluntary. The point of the hour is one person with a drinking problem sitting with others who have been there. You can leave when it ends. You can also stay and ask someone how they got through their first week.
Our meeting finder searches public A.A. listings by day and ZIP. It is one more place to look. The local list is the one to trust when they disagree, and you should still confirm with the group.
If what you need to say is about drugs, open the Oakland NA guide. The rooms named above are A.A.
Doctors, crisis lines, and treatment
Peer support and medical care are different doors. NIDA describes groups like A.A. as peer-led. Use the meeting for the meeting. Use 911, 988, or a clinician when the body is in trouble. SAMHSA answers 1-800-662-HELP (4357), and FindTreatment.gov lists programs. (800) 653-9376 is our treatment referral line.
If you want a treatment referral, call or text (800) 653-9376. If you want a meeting in Oakland tonight, use the number or the list in the first section. In an emergency, call 911 or 988 first.
Additional Resources
Sources cited on this page:
- East Bay Intergroup
- East Bay Intergroup contact
- A.A. directory, California
- A.A.: Find A.A. Near You
- A.A.: Need help with a drinking problem?
- A.A.: What to Expect at an A.A. Meeting
- NIAAA Core Resource on Alcohol: Alcohol Use Disorder, From Risk to Diagnosis to Recovery
- NIDA: Treatment (mutual-help groups are peer-led, not clinical treatment)
- SAMHSA National Helpline
- SAMHSA FindTreatment.gov
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- SmarterRecovery meeting finder
- SmarterRecovery about page (referral disclosure)
Common Questions
Who do I call for an A.A. meeting in Oakland tonight?
Call (510) 839-8900 or open eastbayaa.org. The office phone is (510) 543-0196. The mailing address is 4096 Piedmont Avenue, Box 407, Oakland, CA 94611. Hard of hearing callers can call 711 and ask for (510) 839-8900. The meetings link on the site includes a newcomer list.
Where can I actually go in Oakland?
Use the newcomer list on the East Bay site, or ask the helpline for a group that starts soon in Oakland. The bookstore on Howe Street is a place to get a book and see a person during those short hours. It is not a 24-hour club. San Francisco's helpline is a different number. If your meeting is in Oakland, stay on the 510 line.
Do I have to pay or speak?
No. The desire to stop drinking is the requirement A.A. names. Money in the basket is voluntary. You can leave when the hour ends.
What if stopping drinking could make me sick?
If you drink heavily every day, stopping suddenly can be dangerous. NIAAA says withdrawal can be life-threatening in that situation. Call 911 for a seizure or trouble breathing. Call or text 988 in a mental health crisis. A meeting cannot replace a doctor. For treatment, call or text (800) 653-9376.
Is an NA meeting in Oakland the same thing?
No. NA has its own helpline and its own rooms. If you need NA, use the Oakland NA guide. The numbers above are A.A.