Well, I don't act like that my part of my life never happened, but by the same token I also don't think there is something mysteriously different about me because I was addicted to booze and pills. One of the main reasons I quit attending recovery group meetings was the whole wearing-addiction-like-a-badge-of-honor, the mentality that the rest of the world just doesn't get it...or get "people like us". I don't dig that. at all.