Lawyers and Substance Abuse an International Concern

Twenty-four percent of attorneys will suffer from alcohol abuse problems during their careers. That was one of the statistics discussed recently at an international conference of behavioral health professionals in Ireland. The story is here.

It is thought by many that stress is the number one contributing factor to this high figure. In fact, many studies have found significant but relatively small associations between stress in the workplace and elevated levels of alcohol consumption. For example, one early study data reported that employees’ reasons for drinking were found to be associated with stress-inducing job characteristics, but the correlations were weak. A national survey of employed persons found that lower job satisfaction and higher job stress both were risks for increased drinking. Another study found significant associations between employee alcohol use and lower job satisfaction, less faith in management, and lower involvement with and commitment to the job. There are significant associations between drinking and job burnout, and negative associations between employee drinking behavior and job autonomy and job satisfaction.

Attorneys are not the only professionals who suffer from higher rates of substance abuse. According to statistics revealed at the international conference, doctors are also three times more likely to develop liver cirrhosis than the general population.

Attorneys who are seeking help for their substance abuse problems can usually turn to their respective state bar associations. For instance, the mission of the State Bar of California’s Lawyer Assistance Program is to support recovering attorneys in their rehabilitation and competent practice of the law, enhance public protection, and maintain the integrity of the legal profession.

Many states also require attorneys to complete continuing legal education requirements in the prevention of substance abuse.

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