In my case I'd say yes, my best efforts got me to my bottom.
I chose to drink, use, and a bunch of other stuff to escape my anxiety and feelings of being overwhelmed by life. I actually thought they were a valid option that would allow me to keep functioning...going to work, taking care of family etc in spite of my other issues.
hey, everyone talked about going home from work, unwinding with a drink etc....smoking a joint to relax. If it worked for them, maybe I should give it a try, right?
A little didn't work so I took more. More didn't work so I took a LOT more. That didn't work so I overdosed. But all the while thinking that it WAS the answer to my troubles.
At some point I realized I had to change direction and then my best thinking was aimed at the new direction, my efforts going towards something purposeful.
There were niggling doubts along the way that booze and drugs probably weren't the answer, but I didn't let that derail my train of self destruction.