Alcohol use disorder among legal professionals

Alcohol use disorder, alcoholism, blowing off steam … whatever you call it, many lawyers have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol. A large study of 12,825 lawyers found that 20.6% self-reported problematic drinking behaviors. While many dismiss the dangers of alcohol, claiming that they are high-functioning, the American Bar Association says that lawyers with alcohol dependence “are substantially more likely to underserve their clients, commit malpractice, face disciplinary action and disbarment, fall victim to mental health problems, and even take their own lives.” 

Substance Use Disorder in Legal Professionals

As in many other high-pressure industries, stimulants are the most common drug of choice among lawyers. One study found that lawyers had tried cocaine at more than double the average rate among the general population. This is understandable, as stimulants create feelings of energy and alertness in those who use them, and lawyers are often working long hours to tight deadlines. Some in the legal field go the opposite route, however, using opioids, benzodiazepines, and other substances to self-medicate their stress and anxiety.

Mental health challenges facing lawyers and legal professionals

Mental health is a serious concern for people in legal professions. According to the Dave Nee Foundation, lawyers rank 5th highest in the nation for rate of suicide by profession and are the most frequently depressed occupational group in the United States. While mental health conditions like anxiety and depression can have many contributing factors, including heredity, it has been suggested that among lawyers they may be tied to stress, burnout, and vicarious trauma.

Obstacles that keep legal professionals from seeking help

Despite experiencing substance use disorder at the same rates as laypeople and alcohol use disorder at a significantly higher rate, lawyers often resist seeking treatment. In a 2016 study in cooperation with the American Bar Association, the two most commonly cited barriers were centered around privacy:

• Not wanting others to know they need help

  Reputation can make or break a legal career, and many are unwilling to risk their professional reputation if others learn that they need treatment for alcohol or substance use. The other side of this coin is that by not seeking treatment, they make it more likely that their active addiction or substance use will damage their careers and reputations by making them less reliable and effective and more likely to engage in misconduct. It is estimated that substance use plays a role in 60 percent of all disciplinary cases brought against lawyers. 

• Distrusting the confidentiality of treatment

  Brian Cuban has written about his experiences with lawyers refusing to seek help from Legal Assistance Programs because they are so sure that word would get out. They are concerned with professional consequences if people see them at a 12-step meeting or rehab. While 12-step groups have strong norms around protecting anonymity, it can be difficult to trust in that with so much on the line. But treatment clinics are subject to HIPAA guidelines, and with the advent of telehealth, one does not need to go to a rehab in person.