I'd been a recovering alcoholic with a good program and great life. Then I entered the worst relationship of my life with another recovering alcoholic with no program. Alanon saved my sanity and turned my life around because I finally saw that I am responsible for the people, places and things in my life. I chose someone with huge problems, who was abusive and cared for no one but himself.
I think addiction -- whether to alcohol, another person, food, spending too much money -- is the essence of self-destructiveness. There are plenty of ways to do yourself in, including drinking and getting into a destructive relationship. All these things temporarily take the focus off my own problems, but at a huge price.
After Alanon I wouldn't pick another recovering alcoholic if he was channeling Bill Wilson.