It sounds to me as though you're talking more about resentment than jealousy, though the two often work together. Jealousy, envy and resentment. The alcoholic trifecta.
We're most susceptible to all of these emotions when we're unhappy with our own lives and, conversely, more immune to them when we're living the life we want to live.
It takes time and effort to build a good life, but many of us here have done just that. I believe that we're all always works-in-progress, and that an unhappy life need not be the final chapter.
Other people are generally afraid of alcoholics and addicts, or at least of our addictive lifestyle. Who's to say that they can't also succumb to addiction? This is often expressed in disgust, pity or anger. Or, as you've suggested, in a false sense of security -- a defense -- that may be expressed as a conviction that they know more about addictions and being an addict than they actually do.
The more you focus on building a better life for yourself, the less others' thoughts, opinions and behaviors will adversely affect you. It works almost every time.