I agree with everyone here that has responded.
I have been in your shoes though, JT ... I tried to compromise and it didn't work. In fact, not to doubt you, but I think you are setting yourself up to fall back into your drug of choice. Why do I think this? Because I have done it - many many times. I had a lot of reasons why I HAD to choose the easier way, including where I lived and my mental illness (which includes period of mania, depression, compulsivity, anxiety). I hated sitting with myself... still struggle with it.
I have even used behaviors in addition to "less addictive" substances in order to "fill the empty hole" as you put it. Those behaviors included serial dating, sex, playing online poker, spending money recklessly... and the emptiness remained.
I am grateful now that I recognize that I can't fill emptiness from the outside. It takes willingness to put it ALL down and put my recovery first. Not easy but I can see it's the only way and the other side is way more appealing than what I have been doing.
Good luck!