Texas Attorney Arrested For Cocaine Possession in Court

We caution the reader that one is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in court. But if the following allegations turn out to be true, it is once again proof that substance abuse and addiction does not discriminate on the basis of education, class, or profession.

Given the immense stress that attorneys face in the legal profession, they tend to suffer higher rates of alcohol abuse. When attorneys turn to illegal drugs, the substance of choice is normally cocaine. That may be the case concerning a lawyer from Texas. An attorney from Corpus Christi - who happens to be 70-years old - was in court for a pre-trial docket call for his own trial for possession of a controlled substance. But he is accused of failing a drug test and was about to be jailed. Must have been for breaking the terms of bail. Officers said he had cocaine on him so he was arrested. The story, photos, and a video is here.

The Texas Lawyers Assistance Program offers help to attorneys - day or night -regarding substance abuse and addiction issues.

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Does Drinking Make You Stupid?

Does drinking alcohol reduce your intelligence? We're not going that far, but alcohol does affect your brain. For instance someone who has had too much to drink experiences difficulty walking, blurred vision, slurred speech, slowed reaction times, and impaired memory.

Even having just a couple of drinks can impair your memory. Drinking a lot of booze on an empty stomach - so the alcohol passes quickly into your system and to your brain can cause blackouts. That is when the drunk person can't remember key details of events, or even entire events.

Long time heavy drinkers are at risk for developing serious and persistent changes in the brain. According to this report, "Damage may be a result of the direct effects of alcohol on the brain or may result indirectly, from a poor general health status or from severe liver disease."

Does alcohol make you stupid? Maybe not, but alcohol abuse is a stupid thing to do.

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Ex-Lawyer Gets 8 Months For DUI and Bribery

This is not a happy story.  It concerns the adverse affects from substance abuse and addiction.  A Bay Area intellectual property law attorney was suspended from the practice of law after his DUI conviction.  There is more. 

When Richard Chae was pulled over back in February 2010 for suspicion of drunk driving he tried to convince the police officer to forget the matter.  That discussion apparently involved the offer of a bribe.  Why?  Perhaps it was because he had already been convicted twice before for DUI.  A contributing cause of the bribery attempt may also have been the alcohol.  His BAC was reportedly 0.13.  The story is here. 

Attorneys in California who would like to talk about their problem with alcohol may contact the Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP).  LAP was established by the California Legislature. It is a confidential service of the State Bar of California. Staffed by professionals with many years of experience assisting the legal community with personal issues, the LAP provides assistance to attorneys whose personal or professional life is being detrimentally impacted by substance abuse, other compulsive behaviors, and/or mental health concerns such as depression and anxiety.

The LAP is a comprehensive program offering support and structure from the beginning stage of recovery through continuing care. It includes: individual counseling, expert assessment and consultation, assistance with arrangements for intensive treatment, monitored continuing care, random lab testing, professionally facilitated support groups, and peer support groups. The program also works with family members, friends, colleagues, judges and other court staff who wish to obtain help for an impaired attorney. Financial assistance is available so that no one is prevented from participating in the program due to financial limitations.

Attorneys may self-refer into this program or may be referred as the result of an investigation or disciplinary proceeding. Participation in the LAP is strictly and absolutely confidential. No information concerning participation in the program can be released without the attorney’s prior written consent.
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Alcohol's Attack On Your Body

Did you know that when you have a drink, the alcohol affects every organ in your body?  If you are pregnant, alcohol can even damage your developing fetus.

Getting drunk impairs brain function and motor skills.  Heavy use of alcohol can increase your risk of certain cancers, stroke, and liver disease.  Alcoholism, which is when someone is alcohol dependent,  is a diagnosable disease characterized by a strong craving for alcohol.  An alcoholic typically continues to use alcohol despite knowing that drinking is causing them harm or personal injury.

Alcohol abuse, which can lead to alcoholism, is a pattern of drinking that results in harm to one's health, interpersonal relationships, or ability to work.

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