I am going to train to be the hitting coach for the Dodgers, but I have never played baseball. Do you think I'll be good at it?
This may sound like an unrelated smart ass comment, but it isn't. I cannot imagine using a counselor that did not have first hand experience as an alcoholic or addict, both in and out of recovery. Your experience is second hand.
I am sure you will be a good student, learn a lot and help people, but there are tons of addiction counselors out there that have been hard core alcoholics/addicts, AND have the same academic credentials you are trying for.
If you were the addict looking for help, who would you choose?