Alcoholism and drug addiction strikes
professionals—especially attorneys—in alarming numbers. The
practice of law attracts self-driven overachievers who tend to take
on extraordinary case loads, work long hours, and often escape the day-to-day
pressures of the job by using alcohol and other drugs.
Attorneys have a 50 to 80 percent higher incidence of alcoholism and/or
addiction than the general population, according to recent reports.
If you’re concerned about how much you’re drinking or about
your drug use, the Iowa Lawyers Assistance Program (ILAP) is here to
help.
You don’t have to be spending $1,000 a week on drugs, or drinking
a certain amount of alcohol to have crossed the line into addiction
to alcohol or other drugs.
Alcoholics and addicts experience varying degrees of “bottoms”
before seeking help. (And for the record, treatment centers don’t
make a distinction between addiction to alcohol, cocaine, marijuana,
prescription pain medication or other drugs.)
You can’t take a medical test to determine your status. Only you
can ultimately decide. If you’re concerned, ask yourself if any
of the following are true in your life:
-
Someone close to
me has commented on how much I drink and/or use drugs.
-
At the end of the
day, I’m anxious to leave so I can use or get my first drink.
-
I’ve tried
to control my drinking—vowing to drink or use only on certain
days, certain times of the day, or limiting my drinking or drug use.
-
I’ve been
late to or missed work because I couldn’t get going after a late
night.
-
I’ve been
unable to do my best work because I’ve been too hung over.
-
I’ve borrowed
from a client trust account.
-
I’ve conducted
business with clients while intoxicated then disputed what was said.
-
I’ve told
myself, “I'm not that bad.”
Many people deny their alcoholism/addiction
for years because they have managed to hold their lives together—at
least by appearances.
It’s a myth that alcoholics or addicts can’t be successful.
Many alcoholics and addicts manage for years to continue successfully
at their careers, marriages and social positions—at least on the
outside.
But all the while, the safety net is eroding. And the bottom will fall
out. The question is: How far do you let the disease progress and affect
your life? To the point that you have a nagging feeling you’re
letting clients down? Lost income because you weren’t up to your
best? Disciplinary proceedings before the bar?
Only you can ultimately decide.
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