Why is Drug and Alcohol Abuse So Rampant in The Legal Profession and How Can You Assist Others Who May Need Help?
Written by: Dr. Michael Eason Rates of drug and alcohol abuse have been steadily rising due to pandemic related stress. Unfortunately, high rates of abuse were already common within the legal profession long before the events of last year. According to current statistics, problematic drinking often begins in law school and carries over into what can then be decades of practice. Alongside problematic drinking, persons in the legal profession also frequently exhibit symptoms of depression and anxiety . Some of the risk factors making drug and alcohol abuse prevalent in the legal profession include: stress, the competitive job market, client and firm time demands, law school debt payments, demands of billable hours, the expectation to always be available for clients, and the pressures of constant productivity (“always be billing, always be productive”). Such a pressure cooker environment is fertile ground for addictive behaviours to develop as coping mechanisms ...