Good for you, Lucas!
I think putting your life/decisions in your own hands is a very powerful thing but it is still amazing you have been able to make positive changes in your life and attribute it in part to atheism. However you made those choices and it speaks to your strength of character and resolve. Kudos
I have all my vices still and my life might be better without them but I don't know that they drag me down much so I keep on carrying on the way I have always been.
So I can't relate to that part of it but the choice is one I get to make for myself everyday and the bad decisions I make I just accept accountability/responsibility for, learn something and move forward.

I think it is truly great what you have been able to do and you should be proud of those achievements

I can relate in the sense, that if Liked the feeling of getting drunk past a light buzz, or my experimentation with drugs actually made me feel better instead of just ill, I very likely could have easily ended up with an addiction like one of my brothers who was an alcoholic and drug addict. I would have loved to find an escape like that from religion when I was still in my parents house.

When I was in college, my 2 year degree was in "Addiction Studies", and I learned the physical addiction is relatively easy to break versus the psychological aspects of addiction. Religion puts a lot of stress and pressure in the form of expectations, which are impossible to ever really fully fulfill.

I got my 4 yer degree in Sociology. The defining study that carved Sociology out as a science was Durkehiem's study of suicides. He found that persons who belonged to religions with rigid beliefs were three times more likely to commit suicide. Based on th talone, I'd say religion can make it harder to beat an addition.

For those in recovery, I ten dto tell them the serenty prayer is easier to deal with if you leave out the first ford "God" to become more of a personal mantra and guide to live ones life. By leaving god out, you tke more responsibility for yourself.

Congratulations on embarking on your never ending journey of discovery. You can now discover that the more you learn, the more that you realise that you don't know, and the more there is to learn.

When people believe they can treat their body however they want and that they will get a new one in heaven or whatever, they tend to lead a lifestyle that is less healthy. On the flip side, some atheists may be a bit nihilistic and drugs and alcohol are a common vice. Not saying I'm opposed to that.

I'm very happy for you being able to shed the heavy weight religion places on ones shoulders. It's freeing to be free of the guilt, shame, and negativity that it spews all too often. It's refreshing to relieve yourself of the limits religion imposes.

I have definitely taken a huge interest in science since becoming an atheist. I have become a more avid reader and my skepticism has increased, making me want to discover evidence for things I never questioned before. I love the change it has brought in me and I wish more people were able to open their minds the same way.

I totally agree. Taking full personal responsibility for your actions is a powerful force and much saner mentally. When you finally realize that no-one, not even a god, is going to help you, the only person who can help you is you, then I think it is much easier to make and stick with the changes you make. When I identified with being atheist, I also learnt A LOT just like you, quitting smoking was possible and I also became vegetarian (almost vegan but I love eggs) - so the change were easier due to me taking full personal responsibility. There is no 'InShaAllah' - God willing - there is only you. Congrats my friend.