I took Ambien for a few years after getting sober. My doctor was well aware of my alcoholism when he prescribed it. I never considered abusing it so I can't speak for it's addictive characteristics. HOWEVER, it does have a nasty propensity for causing episodes of behavior such as driving your car while asleep etc. I stopped taking it after I went to an early doctor's appointment and had no memory of it. Blackout drinking all over again, but without the alcohol.