At 14 months my 'alcoholic mind' barely raises an eyebrow from it's resting in the corner. If there's ever any more than that I can just stop give him 'that look' and he's back down.
I think there is freedom from the 'obsession' but it takes time and surrender.
To me surrender meant accepting the thoughts (ideas, and subjective experiences that promote use) but not engaging with them, but not be fearing, despairing or getting angry with them either. I sum it up by now thinking of it as 'not engaging with the struggle' but it also means 'do not fight pain, the suffering will pass'.