Originally Posted by
serenityqueen 
The way I was "raised" in Recovery, to say you are Clean & Sober means that not only is the person abstaining from all mood altering substances (unless prescribed by their doctor and taking as directed) but also working a Program of Recovery. I've seen too many people who are mearly clean but not working any kind of Program, therefore they are basically on a dry drunk.
Thinking of addiction/alcoholism like the disease that it clearly is, let's imagine that a person has cancer, a disease. This person has very advanced cancer and needs chemotherapy to "cure" their disease and to live a cancer free life. OK now, on the other hand we have a person with less advanced cancer or a different form of cancer for whom chemotherapy will not be necessary in order to be cured and live a cancer free life. Of course, cancer, like alcoholism or addiction can be progressive and it might come back and/or get worse and the second person might need chemotherapy down the road but doctors do not order chemotherapy for every cancer patient regardless of type and stage; and simply stated not every person with a drug & alcohol problem needs treatment, AA or 12 steps in order to be cured, and to live a clean & sober life.
Just as the disease is different for everyone, so is the cure.