Hello bwick,   It is not always possible for the schizophrenia to go away.  As the others suggested, I would try to be honest with yourself as to whether mental illness runs in your family.   There are some people with prior alcohol abuse histories who can stop having DTs and the other schizophrenia-like symptoms, but that is after many years sober.  Also a person would have to be clean from drugs for many years before he or she can say the SZ is behind him or her.   It never really goes away, you can just keep it at bay.  The way to do that is to refrain from street drugs and alcohol.  I have a best friend who is quite successful in his recovery from alcoholism.  He has been sober for 19 years and no longer has any symptoms except for SAD-seasonal affective disorder-the winter blues.   I would not get hung up over the SZ label because people with SZ can go on to do great things and have full, productive lives.  I have SZ and I have a Masters degree and have worked as a professional librarian for 12 years.   Regards, Christina