Addiction & Recovery

1) Being sober won't cause your death. Drugs and/or alcohol very well might. Either through health effects, or due to the behavior that you wouldn't otherwise engage in.
2) Getting loaded is only a temporary reprieve from what's actually bothering you. It's a band-aid, at best. Nothing will be better than it was before you got loaded ... when you're no longer loaded. However, you're likely to feel even worse from the comedown/hangover. This very often leads to a vicious cycle type of effect.
3) Drugs and alcohol are a waste of money, you save a lot by not partying.
4) It's easier to keep a job if you're not using.
5) It's pretty hard to GET a job if you're using.
6) Your friends and family likely won't trust you if they know you're using. This hurts, and drives more use/drinking.
7) Using wastes time that could be better spent doing something that's ultimately more fulfilling.
8) If anything important suddenly comes up, you know you can deal with it ... get in your car and drive somewhere you're needed, for example ... if you're sober.
9) You can make plans for things occurring in the future and feel a semblance of certainty that you'll be able to follow through with those plans if you're sober. That is actually an underrated benefit IMHO.
10) You won't ever go to jail simply on account of being sober.

In a nutshell, there's nothing so bad that can't be made immeasurably worse ... by picking up.

Hows that for a start?