Are lawyers particularly susceptible to problems with alcohol, drugs, and other addictive behaviors?
Yes. The stress of being a lawyer today and the culture of many law firms definitely contribute to a higher incidence of alcohol abuse and addiction among lawyers. Many alcohol and drug abuse problems start in law school, where drinking is a big part of collegiate social culture. Consequently, the Lawyer Assistance Program is targeting the District’s law schools to introduce our services to students in the hope we will have an impact sooner in the disease process for some people. In your opinion, does the legal profession as a whole take these risks as seriously as it should? No. One of the biggest problems with getting people the help they need is the tendency for others around them to “enable” them in their addiction. This happens when a family member covers up the negative consequences of a loved one’s drinking or other addictive behavior such as calling an employer to report that the husband or wife won’t be in that day due to illness (read: hangover). It also happens at work when
