I would say most people are terrified of relapsing. I know that it was my worst fucking nightmare during my first couple years of sobriety. And I know too that many people like me suffer from nightmares and really addiction when it gets you causes more PTSD. Addiction at it's very depths is incredibly traumatic for many people. So yes, this is exactly what people are scared of. When you see people getting annoyed in interviews with Demi Lovato's announcement, it's people who have fought tooth and nail for their sobriety, lost many friends along the way and know for themselves if they picked up a drink they would be back on a bender. So this is one perspective, whether it's pushed by AA or not and I know it is, it's irrespective. As for many addicts this is them for life. They will never trust themselves with substances. I believe that their strong open criticism of Demi is about fear for her and fear for themselves and others. Of course there is another way to do sobriety for many people but I guess the question is, as I said in my article on this: How do you know if you can do it? Are you, the addict the best judge of whether this lifestyle is for you? I think we do have to accept that there are many paths within recovery. And I appreciate both sides of the argument here, neither are right or wrong. It's an incredibly personal decision. But I do think that we all have to have compassion for other's situations. The fear for many of cannabis, moderate alcohol use (as Demi does) and any addictive meds (adderall, xanax, codeine) is that it will be the catalyst to a self destructive downward spiral.