I used to drink a lot - I mean a lot - every day for a long while. Luckily for me, one day I woke up and just decided to quit and didn't have any withdrawal problems at all. I was off the sauce for quite a while, and now I drink only for short periods of time (albeit heavily at times lol) with long periods of abstinence in between.

Alas, my consumption of pot has increased. I'm lucky not to miss it much either when it is not available. However, I find it helps even out my mood and relieve stress. I don't feel this to be any different from taking a pill for the same purpose. Mind you, I find I have been abusing it lately, so I'm not saying it is without a negative side. But that is related to other issues which would be off-topic here. I don't claim to know the right of it, only that it seems to help me at times.

Again, I'm pretty lucky in that I can take it or leave it. It's caffeine and nicotine I am addicted to. I'd give my left testicle to be clear of those two.