Best 101 Alcohol & Drug Addiction Quotes of All Time

When you’re feeling overwhelmed or discouraged, an addiction quote can inspire you. They hold profound truths and give you a new way to look at things. Addiction quotes capture common feelings and challenges people face during recovery. This will help you go on because if others have succeeded in the recovery, so can you. Also, for the broader community, quotes about addiction help demystify the experiences associated with this condition. It will help everybody understand what you are going through. We bring you 101 alcohol and drug addiction quotes that will give you hope, make you stronger, and keep you motivated to recover and live a sober life.

Quotes About How Addiction Starts

First, we need addiction quotes to help us understand and be aware of how addiction starts. Often, addiction doesn’t just begin with a decision to try a substance but involves a mix of genetic, environmental, and personal factors. Recognizing the early signs and what triggers addiction can help intervene sooner, potentially stopping the addiction before it fully develops.

Here are some addiction quotes that can help us understand how it all begins:

• “Many people turn to drugs and alcohol as a way to cope with stress, trauma, or emotional pain, not realizing that this temporary escape can lead to long-term addiction.”
• “Addiction might start from wanting to have a good time, to feel a part of something, or to not feel left out, yet it ends in isolation and dependency.”
• “It often begins as an experiment or a social habit and evolves into a coping mechanism that people rely on.”
• “The first time you try drugs or alcohol, it might be for fun, but the fun soon fades, and the need takes over.”
• “Addiction is like a thief in the night, beginning quietly, unassumingly, and often goes unnoticed until much is already taken.”
• “For many, the start of addiction is linked to a desire to change how they feel, to medicate the pain of living.”
• “What often starts as a solution for pain or discomfort becomes the problem itself, as addiction takes hold.”

Motivation and Encouragement Quotes

Many of us suffer from low self-esteem, which, in turn, perpetuates the cycle of addiction. But struggling with an addiction doesn’t mean we’re incapable, weak, or unworthy. And it certainly doesn’t mean we can’t change our lives and move past the disease holding us back. We are all worthy of happiness and living our lives to the fullest. Embrace your worth as a human being, and never settle for anything less than the healthy, happy, and sober life you deserve. Positive addiction quotes can help you achieve this.

Nobody ever said getting clean was easy, and it takes discipline to maintain it long-term. It all starts with contacting drug and alcohol rehab centers in California. And while the uphill climb may seem impossible at first, the result is one of the most rewarding accomplishments you’ll ever experience. The reward is regaining your life and reaching your true potential, making the hard work at the beginning worth it. These addiction quotes will motivate you and encourage you:

• “There is no shame in beginning again, for you get a chance to build bigger and better than before.”
• “Recovery is not a race. You don’t have to feel guilty if it takes you longer than you thought it would.“
• “You don’t get over an addiction by stopping using. You recover by creating a new life where it is easier not to use. If you don’t create a new life, then all the factors that brought you to your addiction will catch up with you again“
• “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” – Confucius
• “I’m not telling you it is going to be easy; I’m telling you it’s going to be worth it.” – Art Williams
• “Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.” – Carl Bard
• “You can’t change the past but can change the future. Recovery is a daily choice to be better than yesterday.” – Unknown
• “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Nelson Mandela
• “Sobriety is a journey, not a destination. Embrace the process, and enjoy the progress.” – Unknown
• “Every single day is a new opportunity to rebuild your life and start again.” – Unknown
• “It won’t be like this forever.”
• “When everything seems like an uphill struggle, just think of the view from the top.”
• “You don’t have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
• No matter how small, acknowledge the achievement.”
• “The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.” – Steve Jobs
• “I think that power is the principle. The principle of moving forward, as though you have the confidence to move forward, eventually gives you confidence when you look back and see what you’ve done.” – Robert Downey, Jr.
• “Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.” – J.K. Rowling
• “The road to recovery may not be easy, but every step is worth it.” – Anonymous
• “Sobriety is the greatest gift you can give yourself.” – Anonymous
• “You are stronger than you think.”

Addiction Quotes for Inspiration

Drug addiction quotes can save you from going down the relapse road. They reinforce your focus on recovery. They ignite a desire to improve and promote the will to stay strong. Reading and digesting inspirational drug addiction quotes increases your chances of staying on track.

Their short but compelling message is why they are passed on for generations. We Level Up California brings you some great addiction quotes that will inspire you:

• “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” – Confucius
• “I’m not telling you it is going to be easy; I’m telling you it’s going to be worth it.” – Art Williams
• “Recovery is an acceptance that your life is in shambles, and you have to change. ” – Jamie Lee Curtis
• “Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.” – Carl Bard addiction quotes
• “If we are facing in the right direction, all we have to do is keep on walking.” – Zen proverb
• “Recovery is hard. Regret is harder.” – Brittany Burgunder
• “If you can quit for a day, you can quit for a lifetime.” – Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Get Your Life Back

Find Hope & Recovery. Get Safe Comfortable Detox, Addiction Rehab & Dual Diagnosis High-Quality Care.

Hotline (855) 695-1160

Recovery and Healing Quotes

While healing, you need to understand what it is about. Being aware of this will help you stay committed to your California drug rehab.

Recovery and healing addiction quotes that can help you are:

• “Recovery is hard, but not recovering is harder.”
• “Recovery is an acceptance that your life is in shambles, and you have to change.” – Jamie Lee Curtis
• “Recovery is about progression, not perfection.”
• “Recovery didn’t open the gates of heaven and let me in. Recovery opened the gates of hell and let me out!”
• “Your best days are ahead of you. The movie starts when the guy gets sober and puts his life back together; it doesn’t end there.” – Bucky Sinister
• “Healing doesn’t mean the damage never existed. It means the damage no longer controls your life.”
• “Recovery is not a one-time event; it’s a journey that requires commitment and support.”
• “Recovery is not just about getting sober. It’s about healing the mind, body, and soul, and reclaiming your life.”
• “Recovery is a process of healing- mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.”
• “It’s never too late to make a change and start living the life you deserve.”
• “Recovery is not for people who need it. It’s for people who want it.”

Addiction Quotes for Hope and Support

We tend to fall back into our old (unhealthy) patterns when things get tough. We desperately need support and encouragement to overcome an addiction, which takes a lot of hard work and personal dedication. That’s where quotes about addiction recovery can uplift us all.

These addiction quotes will give you hope and support:

• “When your heart is breaking for someone who is broken, but your words can’t reach them, ask the angels to go where you cannot. To whisper into their heart that their ears can’t hear: ‘We will not give up on you. Don’t give up on yourself.’”
• “Addiction is a lonely place, but the path to recovery is filled with support and hope.” – Unknown
• “The worst part about anything self-destructive is that it’s so intimate. You become so close with your addictions and illnesses that leaving them behind is like killing the part of yourself that taught you how to survive.“
• “A real relationship is like a river; the deeper it gets, the less noise it makes.” – Tony Gaskins
• “The emotion that can break your heart is sometimes the very one that heals.” – Nicholas Sparks
• “Incredible change happens in your life when you decide to take control of what you do have power over instead of craving control over what you don’t.” – Steve Maraboli
• “I can’t promise that in our relationship you won’t face any problems, but I surely can promise that you won’t face them alone!” – Rose Hathway
• “We are told that people stay in love because of chemistry, or because they remain intrigued with each other, because of many kindnesses, because of luck. But part of it has got to be forgiveness and gratefulness.” – Ellen Goodman
• “When your heart is breaking for someone who is broken, but your words can’t reach them, ask the angels to go where you cannot. To whisper into their heart that their ears can’t hear: ‘We will not give up on you. Don’t give up on yourself.’”
• “Some birds are not meant to be caged, that’s all. Their feathers are too bright, their songs too sweet and wild. So, you let them go, or when you open the cage to feed them, they somehow fly out past you. And the part of you that knows it was wrong to imprison them in the first place rejoices, but still, the place where you live is that much more drab and empty for their departure.” – Stephen King
• “When you resent another, you are bound to that person or condition by an emotional link stronger than steel. Forgiveness is the only way to dissolve that link and get free.” – Catherine Ponder
• “The true joy in life is the journey, not the destination.” – Anonymous
• “You’re worth it.”

Awareness and Understanding Quotes

By learning more about its challenges and realities through addiction quotes, we can build a supportive community that promotes recovery and reduces stigma. The more we know, the better we can support each other. This will lead to healthier and more positive outcomes for everyone involved. We can encourage our loved ones or people we know to enroll in drug or alcohol detox and start healing.

Addiction quotes that can spread awareness and inspire people to be helpful are:

• “Addiction begins with the hope that something ‘out there can instantly fill up the emptiness inside.” – Jean Kilbourne
• “The opposite of addiction is not sobriety, but rather connect with others.” – Johann Hari
• “Addiction is a lot like looking for love in all the wrong places.” – Sinclair Lewis
• “Addiction is a disease, but it’s the only one you can get yelled at for having.” – Mitch Hedberg
• “The call of addiction is often irresistible because it offers immediate gratification in place of long-term fulfillment.” – Deepak Chopra
• “Addiction is a monster; it lives inside, and sometimes it wins.” – Unknown
• “We are all addicted in some way. When we learn to identify our addiction, embrace our brokenness, and surrender to God, we begin to bring healing to ourselves and others.” – Richard Rohr
• “Addiction is a process that starts with pain and ends with pain.” – Unknown
• “Addiction is like a thief. It takes away your health, your family, your career, and ultimately your life.” – Unknown
• “The chains of addiction are too weak to notice until they are too strong to break.” – Unknown
• “Addiction is not a weakness; it’s a medical condition that requires treatment and support.” – Unknown
• “Addiction: the disease that makes you too selfish to see the havoc you created or care about the people whose lives you have shattered.“

According to the report on substance use disorder from 2018-2019, there were 2.9 million Californians age 12 and older who struggled with substance abuse. Addiction quotes can help people get a clearer picture of what substance dependence is and encourage people to seek professional help.

Addiction Quotes on Tough Love and Boundaries

Loving a drug addict is one of the most challenging things that can happen to most people. Whether you’re in a romantic relationship with a person addicted to drugs or your child, parent, or someone you’re close to, it’s difficult to continue loving someone with an addiction to drugs or alcohol. Here are some addiction quotes that will help you with this:

• “Sometimes the most loving thing we can do is say no.”
• “Tough love may seem harsh, but it’s necessary to protect both the addict and the people who love them.”
• “Loving an addict means setting boundaries and sticking to them, even when difficult.”
• “Addiction is a disease, and tough love is sometimes the only way to motivate someone to seek help.”
• “Growing up with addicted parents is like navigating through a storm without a compass.”
• “Sometimes the strongest children come from the weakest parents.”
• “Addiction is a family disease, affecting the children most of all.”
• “Children of addicted parents often grow up too fast and carry burdens they shouldn’t bear.”
• “Living with addicts can be like living in a warzone, with constant chaos and unpredictability.”
• “Difficult relationships come into our lives for a reason. No one would choose them, certainly. But if we let them, they can teach us how to be flexible with others and more forgiving.” – Joan Bauer

If you love somebody going through addiction troubles, know that although these behaviors shape who they are, they do not define who they will be. These addiction quotes will help you understand it better and help your loved one create a healthier, better future.

Addiction Quotes About Family

Drug abuse can happen to anyone, even in communities filled with loving people. Unfortunately, when a drug addiction develops, friends and family are often directly affected. That’s why, in addition to taking steps to help get your loved one into drug rehab, family members and friends must understand how addiction works and how to continue to take care of their health.

Here are some addiction quotes that explain this:

• “Addiction is a family disease. One person may use, but the whole family suffers.”
• “Addiction is a disease, but it’s not an excuse for the damage it causes to families.”
• “Addiction doesn’t just affect the individual. It tears families apart, too.”
• “Growing up with a drug-addicted parent is like living in a never-ending nightmare.”
• “The children of drug-addicted parents often feel like they have to become the caretakers for their own parents.”
• “Being raised by an addict is like learning to fly with a broken wing.”

Helpful Quotes from Celebrities

A lot of us think there’s no way we’ll ever be able to give up drugs or alcohol, but we underestimate the strength within ourselves. Many addiction quotes from celebrities show us this. Sure, the easier route may be to give up and return to our old ways, but we can fully beat this disease once and for all. All it takes is focus, determination, and hard work.

Here are celebrity addiction quotes:

• “I lived a good life, and though not a religious man, I always stuck to my own personal code of ethics and ethos and always stuck to my shoreline and true North. I didn’t need the movies, the parties, the lifestyle, the fame, or the money…I needed the quiet of the outdoors, the sun, the birds, the trees, and the peace that came with that.” – Zac Efron
• “I used alcohol as a way to numb my pain, but the problem with numbness is that it can also dull your joy.” – Demi Lovato
• “I have a lot of friends and family who have been affected by addiction and behavioral health issues. I think it’s time for us as a society to acknowledge it as a disease and not a moral failing.” – Chris Herren
• “I did everything drugs could do to me. It’s a miracle I’m alive.” – Steven Tyler
• “Addiction is a disease, and like any illness, it requires lifelong treatment and management.” – Russell Brand
• “The mentality and behavior of drug addicts and alcoholics is wholly irrational until you understand that they are completely powerless over their addiction and unless they have structured help, they have no hope.” – Russell Brand
• “Addiction is not a choice. Anyone who thinks it is just doesn’t understand.” – Robin Williams
• “Drugs are a waste of time. They destroy your memory and your self-respect and everything that goes along with your self-esteem.” – Kurt Cobain
• “Alcoholism is a disease, but it’s the only one you can get yelled at for having.” – Mitch Hedberg

Addiction Quotes from Recovering Famous People

Here are 5 famous addiction quotes from recovering addicts:

• “The only way to get through life is to embrace the changes and ride them out.” – Nikki Sixx
• “The disease of alcoholism and addiction is a family disease, and we need to become better educated as to what that means.” – Jamie Lee Curtis
• “I used drugs to feel better but never really felt better. I just felt different, and that difference was sometimes enough to distract me from my problems.” – Anthony Kiedis
• “Addiction is a choice. But nobody chooses to become an addict.” – Matthew Perry
• “Sobriety doesn’t open the gates of heaven and let you in; sobriety opens the gates of hell and lets you out.” – Anonymous

“Addiction Is Not a Choice, But Recovery Is”

We finish our addiction quotes selection with the ultimate one: Addiction is not a choice, but recovery is. What this means is that, ultimately, it’s up to you to come out of denial and make the first step towards recovery. Likewise, you can determine the outcome when faced with an unexpected setback or a strong urge to use. Therefore, look for rehab facilities in California and start your treatment. It will help you identify and overcome triggers and make responsible decisions.

With motivation from addiction quotes, positive affirmations, and commitment, you can recover and live a healthier life.

Experience Transformative Recovery at the We Level Up California Treatment Center.

See our authentic success stories. Get inspired. Get the help you deserve.

Hotline (855) 695-1160

Voluntarily testimonials from the We Level Up Treatment Center network vary. Not intended as a guaranteed treatment or outcome as each person's journey is unique.