What Is Alcoholics Anonymous and How Do You Get Help or Find a Meeting?

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a fellowship of people who share their experience, strength, and hope with each other to solve their common problem with alcohol and help others recover. If you want help with a drinking problem, you can contact a local AA telephone hotline to talk with a recovering alcoholic, or find an AA meeting near you. In Arizona, the Area 03 committee website (area03.org) serves as a central hub for AA meetings and service information across the state, including Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe, Flagstaff, and Gilbert.

What AA Is and Is Not

AA is a mutual-help fellowship, not a professional treatment program. The Area 03 site describes it as a place to "learn about the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous, what it is and is not, and how it works." Key points:

• It is a support network of people who have had a drinking problem and want to stop.
• It is not a medical or clinical service, and it does not provide detox, therapy, or formal counseling.
• It is voluntary — the site states, "We are here to help, if and when you want it." You decide whether and when to engage.

How to Get Help Right Now

If you are looking for help with a drinking problem, the Area 03 website directs you to a dedicated "Need Help Now?" section. From there you can:

1. Call a telephone hotline — the site says you can "talk to a recovering alcoholic in your local area by calling one of our many Telephone Hotlines."
2. Learn about the fellowship — read what AA is and how it works before deciding whether to attend a meeting.

The hotline route is the fastest way to speak with someone who understands problem drinking. No appointment or referral is mentioned as necessary.

How to Find AA Meetings in Arizona

The Area 03 site includes an AA Meetings page in its main navigation. This is the entry point for locating meetings across Arizona, including areas such as Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe, Flagstaff, and Gilbert.

To find a meeting:

1. Go to area03.org and open the AA Meetings section.
2. Look for meetings in your city or district.
3. Attend — meetings are the core activity of the fellowship.

The site also maintains an Events Calendar covering "various AA events going on around Arizona including Area Services, Intergroup, Round-Ups and other Home Group and Special Events."

AA General Information vs. Area 03 Service Structure

The Area 03 website serves two distinct audiences, and it helps to know which part you need:

The Area 03 Business section is aimed at members already involved in service. It covers "Upcoming Area 03 Service Assemblies, District information, Area 03 Committees, Delegate Reports, PRAASA Reports, Newsletters, Handbooks, Area 03 Forms, Group Contributions information and other resources for DCMC's, DCM's and GSR's." If you are new and just seeking help or a meeting, you do not need this section.

Group Contributions (for Members in Service)

Area 03 accepts group contributions by mail. Checks should be payable to Arizona Area Committee. The site notes a new address for 2026–2027 and asks groups to update their records:

Arizona Area Committee 3661 N. Campbell Ave #605 Tucson, AZ 85719

The site also lists a Contribute Online option and references PayPal as a payment platform. The website does not state that contributions are required to attend meetings or receive help.

Upcoming Events Listed on the Site

The Area 03 Events Calendar lists events such as:

• 2026 Corrections Conference — October 2–3, 2026, Mesa, AZ
• 2026 PI / CPC Conference — Saturday, November 21, 2026, Tempe, AZ
• 2026 Pacific Regional Forum — December 4–6, 2026, San Diego, CA

The site also notes that November Assembly online registration opens October 1.

Next Steps

• If you want help now: go to the "Need Help Now?" section on area03.org and call a local telephone hotline.
• If you want to attend a meeting: open the AA Meetings page and find one near you.
• If you are already in service: use the Area 03 Business section for assemblies, committees, forms, and reports.