My brother switched addictions back and forth he started drinking became an alcoholic then started crack when drinking then when he stopped those he would gamble , he had barred his self from casinos twice that I know of he claims he is now clean yet he still smokes pot so NO he isn't clean the fact that he is smoking tells me he is just switching addictions.
My AH started with pot and graduated to opiates as far as I know it was only pot for 34 years but who knows either way it isn't a positive thing and I do not want too live my life that way.
I feel pretty sure you don't enjoy the loneliness IMO, you could start Ala-non meetings and go from there after all you have a lot of free time.