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Lawyers and Addictive Behavior
Addictive behavior is a serious problem in the legal profession. Studies have shown that lawyers abuse alcohol and drugs at higher rates than other professionals. Whether the addiction is to alcohol, drugs, sex, gambling, work, or a host of other behaviors, addictions can wreak havoc with a lawyer's professional and personal life. Fortunately, lawyers begin the process of disentangling themselves from addictive behaviors every day. The results are freedom from shame, guilt, dysfunction, and ruined relationships. How do addictions affect lawyers' lives? Addictions are by definition life-consuming. The addict becomes obsessed with obtaining, consuming, or using the substance or activity. This takes over a considerable amount of the professional's time and mental space that is no longer available to attend to work tasks or personal relationships. When work is neglected clients suffer, complain, file grievances, and fire their attorneys. When personal relationships are neglected, marriages fall apart and the professional becomes increasingly isolated. Public humiliation may result following a drunk driving charge or disciplinary action. A downward spiral develops over a period of months or years. Symptoms of addictive behavior will eventually become evident to outsiders. These include (among others) defensiveness and justification, unaccounted-for time, frequent visits to different health care providers, missing deadlines, poor work products or performance, client complaints, and staff covering up for the lawyer. In some cases, a lawyer's work may not be adversely affected - at least not for awhile. Many lawyers manage to maintain appearances and functioning while leading a sort of double life on the outside. Some of these lawyers have already suffered a marital breakup (or several) and are leaning on their addictive behavior to help them cope with their personal unhappiness. Other lawyers create relationship upheaval by engaging in the addictive behavior. This in turn can be terribly distracting from the lawyer's business and create problems in their personal lives. Any way you look at it, addictive behavior is a long journey down a dead-end highway. Job loss, despair, and suicide are not uncommon outcomes. Fortunately, help is available to lawyers, and disaster need not occur. The benefits of freeing oneself from addictive behavior include peace of mind, improved health, freedom to pursue dreams and goals, increased financial stability, and a restored reputation. Most states have a lawyers' assistance program in place to assist lawyers with getting the help they need to address addictive behavior. Call your state bar association today for information about services available in your area. Rebecca Nerison, PhD |
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