A chat room provides a place for people to communicate in real time. Most chat rooms don't require users to have any special software; those that do, such as Internet Relay Chat (IRC), allow users to download it online free of charge.

To join a chat room, users will typically select from a variety of rooms and are often required to register prior to logging on. To “chat”, users type and submit messages that are immediately sent to the chat room for others to view and reply to. Thus real-time chat meetings feel more like face-to-face meetings than communicating via message board, though some message boards integrate real-time messaging features as well.

Chat meetings are essentially chat rooms than include a chairperson who introduces topics that others in the room take turns providing feedback on. At some meetings, an opening and closing statement is also included.

The latest development in online meetings is "voice chat", where participants can actually hear each other discuss the meeting topics. With the use of a microphone and speakers, participants can talk and listen in real-tom to others in the room. Users who do not have microphones can participate in the standard chat room fashion by typing their messages in directly.

Alphabetical

HAMS Harm Reduction Network (hamsnetwork.org)
HAMS is a free of charge peer led support group for people who want to reduce the harm in their lives caused by alcohol or other substances. HAMS offers support via a chat room, an email group, a forum and live meetings. HAMS supports every goal from safer use to reduced use to abstinence from alcohol.

Marijuana Anonymous Online (ma-online.org/chat.html)
This site hosts both chat rooms and online meetings for those recovering from marijuana addiction.  Click on Online Meeting Schedule in the left menu bar for a list of ongoing online MA meetings.  Click on MA Chatspace in the left menu bar for insructions on how to enter a chat room (specific instructions are provided for those using AOL).

My Sober Life (mysoberlife.com)
This online support web site for those in recovery offers online chat support, daily journals, individual blogs, email notification of posts/comments, community discussion board and private messaging.

NA Chatroom (nachatroom.org)
Based on the 12 step traditions of Narcotics Anonymous, this site offers online meetings seven days a week, open chats, forums and member stories.

RecoveryBoard.com (recoveryboard.com)
They have two different chat rooms. One is a Java applet based chat (you should have at minimum a computer with a Java- enabled browser). You can download Chat Space Java Client from the web site. The second uses web TV or other ways to access the web and connects you to Talk City.

Recovery Chat (RecoveryChat.com)
Provides online recovery chat room services for those affected by any form of addiction. Multiple meeting rooms with scheduled meetings as well as user photos and a bulletin board are offered. The site uses a Java-based chat software called Digichat.

Recovery Chat Room (recoverychatroom.com)
Real time moderated chat on the 12-steps and 12- traditions.

Sober24 (sober24.com/Chat/85/)
The SoberChat chat rooms are open 24 hours a day/7 days a week. They offer virtual meetings on a regular basis. SoberChat categories include an Emergency room, Recovery room, Family room, 12-step Recovery Meeting Room, Family Recovery Meetings, and Sponsor Rooms. Registration is required and is free for the first 24 days. After that there is a yearly membership fee of $32.00.

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