What Is Alcoholics Anonymous in North Carolina (Area 51)?

Updated

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) in North Carolina is organized as Area 51, a service body that connects people across the state to local helplines, meetings, and AA resources. If you have a problem with alcohol, the site's first instruction is simple: call the helpline for your area or find a meeting. If you are already a member, the same site points you to member resources, Spanish-language support, and upcoming events.

What AANC Covers

The site describes AA itself as "a fellowship of people who come together to solve their drinking problem." Area 51 is the North Carolina structure that carries that fellowship across the state, with separate helplines for different regions.

The homepage is built around three questions:

  • Do you have a problem with alcohol? — leads to finding a meeting or calling a helpline.
  • Helpline – Give them a Call — lists regional phone numbers.
  • Are you a member of AA already? — leads to member resources and events.

How AA Helps With a Drinking Problem

AA's approach is peer support, not professional treatment. The site explains two core tools:

  • The Twelve Steps — "Members use the Twelve Steps to maintain sobriety."
  • The Twelve Traditions — guidelines for how groups, members, the wider Fellowship, and society relate to one another.

The emphasis is on anonymity and mutual support among people who share the same problem, rather than clinical or medical care.

Finding Help by Region

The site lists a helpline for each part of North Carolina. Use the number that matches where you are:

Area Counties / Cities Helpline
Charlotte Mecklenburg County (704) 332-4387
Triangle Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill (919) 783-6144
Fayetteville Bladen, Cumberland, Robeson (910) 644-0724
Wilmington Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover, Pender (910) 794-1840
Asheville Mountain counties (828) 254-8539
Boone Watauga, Avery, Yancey, Mitchell (828) 264-1212
High Point area High Point, Asheboro, Lexington, Archdale, Thomasville (336) 885-8520
Wilson / Rocky Mount Wilson, Rocky Mount, Nashville (252) 977-7744
West Jefferson Ashe County (336) 982-2641
Wilkesboro Wilkesboro, North Wilkesboro, Hays, Wilkes County (336) 927-5593
Outer Banks Dare, Currituck (252) 256-0850
Beaufort County — (252) 947-5317
Pitt County — (252) 375-3969
Craven & Pamlico — (252) 149-0898
Wayne & Lenoir — (919) 735-4221
Winston-Salem Forsyth, Stokes, Surry, Yadkin (336) 725-6031
Foothills Burke, Catawba, Caldwell (877) 960-4785 (English) / (828) 291-8465 (Spanish)
Carteret County — (252) 648-4458

If your county is not listed, call the number closest to you and ask for a referral.

If You Are Already a Member

The site offers:

  • AA Members — a section for current members.
  • En Español — Spanish-language resources.
  • Upcoming Events — for example, the Spring Into Action Conference on 02-06-2027 in Sanford, NC, and Freedom From Bondage 38 from 03-12-2027 to 03-14-2027 in Aberdeen, NC.
  • A mailing list — you can join to receive updates.

What to Expect When You Call

The site's own framing is that a helpline connects you with "someone who understands." In practice, that means a volunteer who can tell you where and when local meetings happen, answer basic questions about AA, and point you to other resources if AA is not the right fit. The site does not describe clinical assessment, insurance, or fees, so treat the helpline as an information and peer-support line rather than a medical service.

Key Takeaways

  • AA in North Carolina is organized as Area 51 (AANC).
  • The site's core offer is a regional helpline list and a meeting finder.
  • AA describes itself as a fellowship, with the Twelve Steps for sobriety and the Twelve Traditions for group relationships.
  • Support is anonymous and peer-based, not professional treatment.
  • Members and Spanish speakers have dedicated sections, plus a calendar of events.