The act of not partaking in the substance or activity to which a memberAn individual who attends 12-step program meetings and has the desire to overcome addiction. is addicted. The length of sobrietyIn 12-step programs, an individual is sober when they are no longer partaking in the behavior or substance to which they are addicted and living a better life following the program. Both are necessary to achieve sobriety. of addicts is determined following the period of abstinence.