Jup. Never been an alcoholic, but I've used alcohol to forget quite a lot. Tried various other substances, but it's always been most of alcohol. Probably because the other stuff just hits too hard, especially on the way down. I've also smoked a lot of pot, but that just made me A LOT worse. I just get panic attacks and massive depression of it now. I don't do anything except alcohol now. It's still something I try to cut down on, and I've managed to some extent. The average Joe drinks more than me, but it's still too much for me. If I drink while I'm having a hard time, I get 2-3-4 up to 5 days of * afterwards. When I'm down, I have to drink A LOT before I really notice any difference. I'm not talking about 3-4 pints. Probably 6-7 before I really feel any better. And from there on you get the idea that each pint will make you feel even better, so you just continue. Or I, so to speak

I just can't, anyway. But sometimes the temptation sucks me in. Not as much as before though, but it's hard. It's especially hard to stop drinking, since a lot of my unestablished still young friends drinks in weekends and at social settings. Not always, of course, but it's hard for a legal substance that you see all around you. And when you're in a bottomless pit, it's hard to see the consequences of your actions, and you'll give anything to stop the pain. I manage though, but just barely.
I'm also quite the sugar addict

The addiction to that is worse than nicotine and alcohol. Well, you got to have something.