Originally Posted by
Meltdown 
What does recovery get you that sobriety doesn't?
There is more to not drinkin than not drinkin.
If you stop drinkin and feel as if you are suffering as a result of it, sooner or later you may feel sobriety is not worth having. The goal of recovery is to put an end to all the suffering associated with not drinkin.
The real benefit of using a spiritual based recovery program in place of a managed abstinence program is to gain the peace of mind, joy and sense of purpose that goes along with true recovery.
In short, sobriety (managed abstinence) is an "end of drinkin progam. Recovery is an "end of suffering program."