1. What is Go Ask Alice! ?
2. What is the mission of Go Ask Alice! ?
3. When was Alice! born?
4. What types of questions does Alice! answer?
5. Who can ask questions?
6. Who answers the questions?

7. What happens when information changes?
8. Where can I go for more health information?
9. Hey, wasn't there a song...?
10. Are Go Ask Alice! Q&As; available in print?
11. I still have more questions about Alice! Where can I go?
12. I have a comment/suggestion for the site. Where do I sound off?

Go Ask Alice! is the health question and answer Internet service produced by the Alice!, Health Promotion Program at Columbia University — a division of Health Services at Columbia.

This site has three primary features:

• New GAA! Q&As of the Week gives you the most recently published inquiries and responses — this section is updated every Friday.
  
  
• Search GAA! lets you find health information by subject via a search of the ever-growing Go Ask Alice! archives containing over 3,000 previously-posted questions and answers, and reader responses.
  
  
• Ask Alice! gives you the chance to ask and submit a question to Alice!

Go Ask Alice! is a health Q&A; Internet service. It works to provide readers with reliable, accurate, accessible, culturally competent information and a range of thoughtful perspectives so that they can make responsible decisions concerning their health and well-being.

Well, a lady never reveals her age, but Go Ask Alice! was born in 1993 at Columbia University's Health Promotion program, likely making it the first major health Q&A; Internet site. For more information about Go Ask Alice!'s 10-year celebration (2003), visit the 10-year anniversary page.

"Alice!" answers questions about relationships; sexuality; sexual health; emotional health; fitness; nutrition; alcohol, nicotine, and other drugs; and, general health.

Originally, the site was for Columbia students only. Its instant success on campus, combined with new Internet capability, quickly landed Go Ask Alice! on the World Wide Web for global access.

Go Ask Alice! receives over 1,100 inquiries weekly from college and high school students, parents, teachers, professionals, older adults, and others, on every conceivable health topic. All questions are read.

Inquirers to Go Ask Alice! are anonymous — their addresses are electronically scrambled prior to reaching GAA!'s e-mailbox.

Go Ask Alice! is supported by a team of Columbia University health educators, health care providers, and other health professionals, along with information and research specialists from health-related organizations worldwide.

Responses undergo a standardized review process to insure high quality and accuracy, and updated content is posted on the home page under "new Q&As;" and on the recently updated Q&As; page. Additionally, you can see both the originally published and updated/reviewed date in each question and answer.

The Internet, print, and institutional resources prominently featured on the site allow readers to pursue additional information and assistance from hundreds of local, national, and international sources.

The name Go Ask Alice! came to a site producer in a dream, and is not a reference to the Jefferson Airplane song "White Rabbit," "Alice’s Restaurant," the TV show "Alice," Alice in Wonderland, "The Brady Bunch" housekeeper, Alice from "The Honeymooners," Alice Walker, Alice Cooper, Alice in Chains, or any other real or ficticious person, place, or thing named Alice.

The Go Ask Alice! Health Question and Answer Internet Service and The Go Ask Alice Book of Answers: A Guide to Good Physical, Sexual, and Emotional Health by Columbia University's Health Education Program are also not affiliated in any way with the book GO ASK ALICE by Anonymous, edited by Beatrice Sparks, Ph.D.

The Go Ask Alice Book of Answers: A Guide to Good Physical, Sexual, And Emotional Health (Henry Holt and Company, Inc., September 1998) features many of Alice's most intriguing and commonly-asked questions.

Go Ask Alice! Q&As are used by teachers and textbook producers as curriculum supplements in high school and college health education classes.

Check out the "Go Ask Alice! stuff" section of our General Health category for more of Alice!'s responses to questions asked by readers in the past.

Alice! welcomes all general comments and suggestions about the site from our readers. If you have a suggestion, please click here to go to a form where you can submit your comment. Or click here if you'd like to view other readers' comments from the past.