What is aa.org and what does Alcoholics Anonymous offer?

aa.org is the official website of Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.), a fellowship that helps people with drinking problems stop drinking through one alcoholic sharing experience with another. The site is useful if you are looking for help with your own drinking, trying to support a family member or friend, or working as a professional with alcoholics. It is not a treatment provider or a paid program; it is an entry point to local A.A. groups and to A.A. literature and information.

Who the site is for

The homepage asks visitors to identify themselves, which reflects the main audiences A.A. serves:

• People looking for help with a drinking problem — the primary audience.
• A.A. members — looking for service information, resources, and ways to get involved.
• Family members or friends — trying to help someone they care about.
• Professionals — such as those working in legal, corrections, or health settings with alcoholics.

If you are unsure whether you have a problem, the site offers a self-assessment rather than requiring you to decide first.

What A.A. says it offers

The core claim on aa.org is direct: "Have a problem with alcohol? There is a solution." A.A. states it has been helping alcoholics recover for more than 80 years, and that its program of recovery is built on "one alcoholic sharing with another." It also states that A.A. has helped more than two million alcoholics stop drinking.

Two points are worth separating here:

• The mechanism A.A. describes is mutual help between people with the same problem, not professional treatment.
• The scope of the claim is about stopping drinking and recovery through the program, not a medical or clinical guarantee.

What you can actually do on aa.org

The site is organized around a few practical actions:

The meeting finder is the most concrete tool: you enter a location and distance, and it returns A.A. options in that area.

How A.A. describes getting involved

For members, aa.org frames participation as both service and self-preservation: "A.A. members work together to help the alcoholic who still suffers. Helping each other is a key to staying sober." It says the best place to start is through an A.A. group, because group participation helps ensure A.A. is available when someone reaches out.

The site also points to service structures beyond the group level, including A.A. service committees, the General Service Office (G.S.O.), the Grapevine, and the General Service Structure.

What the site does not tell you

The homepage content does not list prices, membership fees, or login requirements, and it does not describe medical treatment, therapy, or clinical outcomes. A.A. presents itself as a fellowship-based program rather than a professional service. If you need medical care for alcohol withdrawal or a co-occurring condition, that is outside what this page describes.

A practical way to use the site

1. If you are unsure about your drinking, start with the self-assessment.
2. If you want to talk to someone or attend a meeting, use "Find A.A. Near You" with your location and preferred distance.
3. If you want to understand the program first, read "What is A.A." and the Frequently Asked Questions.
4. If you are trying to help someone else, use the "Is there an alcoholic in your life?" resources.
5. If you are already a member, explore groups, service committees, and sponsorship resources.