The way I see it, addiction is like a door that once opened and passed through is like a one street and there is no going back once a certain line is crossed. You might stop doing whatever it is that you were addicted to (and good on your for that) but you can never get back to your pre-addicted state of mind. A switch has been flipped in your brain and any future use of that substance will likely result in becoming physically addicted quicker this time and with even more devastating consequences and it will be more and more difficult to quit every time this happens as you chase the dragon. So I think that is what people mean when they say addict for life or alcoholic for life. You are exactly that and the only remedy is to never use that substance again. Call yourself what you like just stay clean.