Not using alcohol or other drugs at all.
In the context of addiction treatment:
Some programs promote complete abstinence as the goal of recovery, while others may use harm-reduction approaches (focusing on safer use and reduced harm).
What to know:
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Abstinence can be a personal choice, a treatment goal, or a requirement in certain programs (like many 12-step groups).
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Relapse does not erase all progress; many people have multiple attempts before sustaining abstinence.