The term sobriety is not defined in current medical or psychiatric literature. The term abstinence is found more often and is generally agreed upon as the treatment goal for severe alcoholics. Abstinence is defined as nonuse of the substance to which a person was addicted.

Sobriety and Substance Abuse

The term "sobriety" is used by members of ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS (AA) and NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS (NA), and also by members of other Twelve-Step groups and recovery groups not affiliated with AA. In AA and NA, "sobriety" is often preceded by the adjectives "stable" or "serene." Abstinence—the condition of being sober—is a necessary but insufficient condition for sobriety. Sobriety means something different from the initial abstinence so often achieved by alcoholics and other drug addicts. This initial abstinence is recognized as a time of vulnerability to RELAPSE, often referred to as a "dry drunk" or "white knuckle sobriety."

Sobriety in Na and Aa.