What is Recovery?

Frequently I am asked "what do you mean by recovery"? People want to know if it means drinking or using drugs less, not at all, or somewhere in between. I was reading "Addiction Professional" today and came across a definition that makes sense to me. It was put forth by the Betty Ford Institute and is described as a work in progress.

"Recovery from substance dependence is a voluntarily maintained lifestyle characterized by

sobriety, personal health and citizenship".

"Sobriety refers to abstinence from all mood altering non prescribed drugs and alcohol."

Abstinence is considered necessary for a recovery lifestyle. Evidence indicates that for formerly dependent individuals, sobriety is most reliably archived through the practice of abstinence from alcohol and all other drugs of abuse.

Source: Carlton K. Erickson, Phd, Addiction Professional