The legal profession trains an individual to be highly intelligent and argumentative, therefore, lawyers are well-trained in argumentation. Remember, that drug or alcohol addiction is a respecter of no age, social standing or profession and that addiction thrives more under a stressful environment.

Therefore, lawyers who work for long hours, bill on the hour, and are constantly competing with someone for something are easy preys for substance addiction.

But for lawyers, it can be difficult to accept that they have an addiction problem because they can create valid justification for their compulsive use of a particular substance. And when eventually they get over their denial and begin to seek treatment, getting a facility that is perfectly suited for them can be a struggle.

Often, the staff of regular treatment facilities can be overwhelmed by the intellectual excuses or arguments of lawyers justifying their addiction.

To solve the problem came executive rehabs designed for top professionals like lawyers who have job responsibilities and high prestige. Lawyers are often on call, needing to attend to one client’s case or other, so total separation from work to receive treatment is often not feasible.

Therefore, executive rehabs provide an enabling environment that allows lawyers to work, attend meetings, and still receive addiction treatment.

Often, the stress or pressure of the workplace is what leads a lawyer to substance addiction, so separating from the workplace and still could be good for an addicted lawyer.

Furthermore, till today there remains a stigma attached to addicted individuals, not to talk of an addicted lawyer. Therefore, recognizing this factor, executive rehabs protect the privacy of their clients, so as not to tarnish their prestige in the legal field.

Similarly, high-earning lawyers enjoy an affluent lifestyle, one of plenty and splendor. Executive rehabs retain such lifestyle a lawyer is accustomed to, providing massage therapy, acupuncture, yoga, fitness centers, pools and much more.

Hence, an addicted lawyer doesn’t have to lower his/her standard or adjust to a different lifestyle because he/she is receiving treatment.

In summary, these are what an executive rehabs for addicted lawyers entails, the services it offers, and why it is vital to the recovery of addicted lawyers.

The legal profession is one of high prestige, but also one in which attorneys are under constant pressure to maintain the high standards of their profession.

It can be emotionally and psychologically draining and even physically stressful considering the long hours spent sitting or standing. It is little wonder then that some attorneys have taken to alcohol or substance addiction to cope with the stress, anxiety, and pressure that comes with their profession.

Regardless of this prevalent issue among attorneys, there are health tips that could significantly reduce the rate of addiction among attorneys. These tips help to prevent addiction, especially among attorneys. Some of which is discussed below;

• Place Healthy Limits

As a legal professional, you must protect your mental and emotional health, for it is quite easy to get drawn into depression. Being overly focused on clients problems, spending long hours, sleepless nights working can cause excess stress which could lead you to addiction.

Therefore, set limits, know when it is time to stop work and do something beneficial to your mental health, or when it is time to sleep and be diligent in it.

• Socialize

Humans are social beings, and maintaining social relations with others is a way to manage stress effectively. Attorneys should establish close relationships with colleagues with whom you can hang out and who will check on you regularly in times of excess stress. Also, do not neglect time spent with loved ones or family, as this helps to manage work stress and prevent addiction.

• Exercise

Recreational exercise remains a major means to managing stress, anxiety, and pressure. Exercise also helps to keep your body in good health. So, relieve the stress of the legal profession using regular exercise.

• Sleep

As simple as it is, sleep does a world of good to the body and mind. Depriving yourself of sleep harms your body and mind, and make you more susceptible to stress and subsequent addiction. So, learn to have a good, healthy sleep, especially as an attorney.

Addiction does no good to anyone, with no exception to attorneys. It is imperative therefore that it is prevented as much as possible. With the discussed tips, attorneys can effectively prevent the occurrence of substance addiction or alcoholism.

Legal professionals are often subject to jokes by the general public but men and women in this profession are actually known for their intelligence and hard work in dealing with complicated legal matters.

With the high-stress levels and short deadlines routinely associated with their day to day work, legal professionals often push themselves beyond their physical and mental limits. This trend is in line with other similar high-stress careers including police officers, doctors, emergency first responders. Attorneys and lawyers are also known to choose unhealthy habits to cope with the pressures, stress, and anxiety that come with their profession.

More specifically, alcohol abuse in combination with depression and anxiety are known to be relatively more common among legal professionals than in others.

An additional point to take into consideration is that lawyers and attorneys also suffer from extremely high levels of mental health problems. It has been reported that as high as 40% of law students suffer from depression right after their first year in law school. This unfortunate problem seems to continue all through their law school into their careers.

A study by the American Bar Association studies the frequency and quantities of alcohol consumption in 12,825 licensed and employed lawyers in 19 states around the US.

Based on anonymous responses to a questionnaire provided by study participants, results indicate that more than a quarter (28 percent) suffer from depression while 19 percent exhibited symptoms of anxiety.

Considering the functioning of the legal system, it is a common understanding that attorneys who argue cases in courts find that they have to compromise their ethical and moral values. They may also have to take positions that are contrary to their belief system and defend people they think are guilty. This is likely to generate an inner conflict depending on the personality and personal convictions of the lawyer.

Addiction to alcohol and drugs in the legal profession is a big problem that unfortunately put an end to many promising careers and lives.  

Taking steps to addressing mental health and stress related triggers early on in the law school is an important consideration.

It appears that finding a good work-life balance is difficult for lawyers and attorneys. This is especially true in the case of junior lawyers who generally will not have control over their schedules and workload.

An indirect factor for some of the stress experienced by men and women in legal profession is said to be high levels of debt that gets accumulated when studying in the law school. This huge burden could create a lot of pressure when the graduating young lawyers make their career decisions. It is important that these young professionals with a promising career need to keep in mind that their well-being is tied to keeping themselves physically and mentally healthy.

Fortunately, several treatment options in a private and confidential environment are available. It is important to seek help as soon as they recognize signs of addiction or substance abuse.

A majority of attorneys and other legal professionals regularly face ethical dilemmas and stress as part of their day to day work in high-pressure, competitive workplaces. Attorneys are among the professions listed under those prone to abuse of alcohol and drugs as a way to cope with the stress.

Surveys confirm that the rates of alcohol abuse in the legal profession are among the highest of any career in North America. This is reflected in the general impression among the public of a ‘drunk lawyer’.

Since lawyers are also highly paid professionals, it can be assumed that they get timely treatment for their addiction problems.

However, the biggest barrier to getting addiction treatment is said to be the belief among attorneys that admitting they had a problem could bring a bad reputation, damage their image in the society and essentially ruin their very career. They may also be afraid of co-workers finding out about their addiction or substance abuse.

These barriers to seeking the essential timely help calls for treatment options that can maintain a high degree of confidentiality and privacy.

For legal professionals, services exclusive to them have been the most effective in treating addiction. The first step is overcoming fear and asking for help.

International Lawyers in Alcoholics Anonymous is a group of recovered attorneys and judges carrying the message of recovery within the legal profession. Their primary role is to serve as a bridge between Alcoholics Anonymous and the legal professionals who are afraid or reluctant to seek help or in denial.

Experiences from the 12-step program of Alcoholics Anonymous show that attorneys are worried about their anonymity if they attend the program. Even when they get over denying that they have a substance abuse problem, they are still reluctant to be seen publicly by attending the AA sessions.

If you are a legal professional feeling the overwhelming demands at work, it is advisable that you speak with your supervisor or a trusted mentor.  This is the most effective first step you can take. Many employers are committed to the physical and mental well-being if their employees and will be ready to help address the concerns. In addition, there are a number of other recovery resources available – such as paid time off or company-funded addiction treatment.

It is also important to talk with a family member or trusted friend who will be able to understand and give advice. This will help reduce pressure and provide much-needed support. To identify the best treatment option, it is useful to set up an appointment for a substance abuse evaluation with a counselor.

It is saddening to note that, attorneys are not left out in the addiction problem. As a matter of fact, the addiction problem which an attorney faces, might not necessarily begin in their career.

It could be a long term effect stemming from their days at law school, where they have been imbued with unnecessary pressure to finish with good grades. Getting good grades would imply that they get nice placement at law firms and other establishments.

The law profession is a very challenging one, and it is not for the faint-hearted. When it comes to taking care of cases, there is always much invested effort into ensuring they handle those cases well, and their clients do not lose.

So to prevent this, they put much research into such cases, in order to ensure that the investigation is thorough.

Hence, for some of these attorneys to cope properly beyond their limits, they need a form of motivation and inspiration, hence the addiction to alcohol and drugs. Attorneys who are addicted are usually of the belief that indulging in alcohol and drugs would make them perform better in their career.

In the long run, the addiction to substance abuse affects attorneys, as it would affect other individuals. Addiction has a great detrimental effect on the physical and mental health of an individual, and attorneys are not left out if they indulge.

For attorneys to rid themselves free of addiction, it is important for them to register for rehab services, specifically the ones which are conversant with the legal profession and the demands.

Attorneys are top executives, and the type of rehab where they would receive treatment, is different from the ones which conventional people would use.

It is easy for you to tell when an attorney is addicted, it would be obvious in their physical stature, their speech and the likes. The attorneys themselves would also notice that, there would be a decline in their productivity.

A good number of attorneys are not willing to admit their addiction problem, so that their career would not be dented. However, there is no harm opening up to an addiction counselor or therapist who would proffer the best course of action.

When it comes to addiction, it is a common severe problem among attorneys. A good number of attorneys are battling various forms of addiction, without the knowledge of the public. As you would expect, it would not be advisable for attorneys to make known to the public, that they are addicted, because of their professional status. Hence, a good number of them have resorted to other ways of managing their addiction.

Drugs and alcohol addiction, are the commonest type of addictions which attorneys face, and the reason for this is not far-fetched. Attorneys go through a lot of stress which comes with their work, and they hardly have any time to rest. There are times when they would spend long nights, making enquiries into difficult cases. Sometimes, having to handle a case could take up to several weeks, and they would arrive at nothing.

This stress-filled life has made some attorneys to use either drugs or alcohol to keep them mentally balanced, and free from stress. However, taking these substances comes with a lot of demerits.

First and foremost, drugs and alcohol addiction affects their sense of reasoning and judgement. Attorneys who are hooked on substance abuse, would find out along the line that, their sense of reasoning has been affected, and they would be most times partial in the assessment and evaluation of any case, and when this continues to happen in the long run, it implies that they would lose more cases, thereby having a dent on their legal career.

In addition to this, substance abuse in the long run has an adverse effect on their health. Attorneys in this case, would fall ill more often, and they would discover that the “high-effect” which the drugs and alcohol gives, is short-lived. Hence, they would find themselves battling stress, anxiety and depression more frequent than usual.

Addicted attorneys are advised to promptly seek help, so that they do not end up ruining their legal career. Knowing fully well that they cannot use conventional addiction treatment centre, they are advised to try out the executive option.