Recovery from addiction starts with accepting the fact that you cannot safely use alcohol or mood altering drugs. But just knowing that addictive chemicals are harmful is not enough. You must stop using them. Not using addictive chemicals is abstinence. But abstinence alone is not enough.
Abstinence simply allows the recovery process to begin.
It is the means to an end. It is necessary to correct the physical, psychological, and social damage to health caused by addiction. It is also necessary to learn to live a healthy and productive life without the need for drugs or addictive behaviour. The addicted person must learn to cope with life in a non-addictive manner. Relapse and recovery are intimately related.