Hi Sadwife - "controlled" drinking/using is something that a lot of alcoholics/addicts like to think they can do, and I believe that it can be a stage along the way to acceptance of true powerlessness over the substance in question. IMHO, it's an example of diseased thinking, and most alcoholics/addicts quickly learn that there is no such thing as control over their DOC - that's what makes them alcoholics/addicts in the first place.
Just my 2 cents!
Ditto to Smoke's wise words!