It’s a question of priorities…I’ve seen too many recovering addicts who focus so heavily on the spiritual side of things, only to end up relapsing. Obviously they were fooling themselves and were full of spiritual pride.

To turn down the drink or the drug is still an important decision that can be framed in spiritual terms. But I’m framing it as a physical problem here, not a spiritual one.

I have a friend in recovery who died young due to poor physical health. How does his death serve others or allow his spiritual connection with God to serve others? I don’t believe it does. Just my belief of course….I think he could do more of “God’s work” if he were still here.

Had he addressed the physical, I believe his “net spiritual contribution in life” would have went up.

What I’m really getting at here is this: you’re not doing anyone any good if you’re dead (or drunk), so you had better address your physical health and physical sobriety as a first priority.

To put it in AA terms: don’t put the 11th step in front of step one. If you do you will relapse. Step one must always come first, and it is the only step that must be worked perfectly in order to maintain sobriety (step one being about, in part, powerlessness over the physical substance of drugs or alcohol).