She was the center of attention on Saturday afternoon at the Beverly Hilton Hotel - ironically, the same venue where she partied along with the cast of "Girls" for six straight years at the booze-fueled Golden Globes, reports variety.com.
"Being sober in life is hard," Dunham told variety.com.
She added: "But being sober is the first step to facing all the things that made you want to hide in the first place. Part of why I love Friendly Houses is because they don't discriminate," said Dunham, who celebrated a year of sobriety in April.
"It's not a rehab for the rich and famous. It's a place where women who need help are never turned away for financial reasons. It's sad that in this country, recovery has become a privilege, not a right."
Dunham has amassed an impressive collection of awards since her 2010 debut as writer, director and star of "Tiny Furniture," including a Golden Globe.
But her Woman of the Year honour from Friendly House is "the most meaningful", she said.
"I joke: 'Oh, my God. I'm getting an award for not doing drugs'," said Dunham.
"The recognition for my work did not come with the same sense of unity and personal satisfaction but it gave me a voice. Now I want to use it to support mental healthcare, trauma work and recovery."
Demi Moore has also been vocal about her battle with addiction and the toll it has taken on her family and career. The veteran actress walked hand-in-hand with Dunham through a flurry of flashbulbs inside the ballroom. After the other honourees, Friendly House Emeritus board member Marcia Harrow and meditation guru Bob Roth, accepted their accolades, Moore took the stage to present Dunham with the Woman of the Year Award.
"You're a fellow warrior out there carving a path that is not only authentic to you but redefining what those possibilities are for others," she said.
Dunham hugged and kissed Moore, then found herself alone in the spotlight.
"This would be so much easier on Klonopin," she said.
She also reflected on her journey to self-acceptance and sobriety.
( With inputs from IANS )