For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, spending our days in malice and envy, hated by men and hating one another. But when the goodness and lovingkindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we had done in righteousness, but according to his mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit...
Titus 3.3-5 NASB (approximately)
When I was involved with the Navigators, I memorized verse 5 (it was on one of those little cards). The point being emphasized is that salvation (you can call it "recovery" or something else if you like) is not a matter of "I finally got my act together" or "I pulled myself up by my own bootstraps" or any other self-help myth.