High rates of alcohol abuse, depression among attorneys

[Dick Whitman]

Personally, I haven't seen the alcohol abuse. Most people I work with are squares. Anxiety? Yes. Depression? Probably.

High rates of alcohol abuse, depression among U.S. attorneys, study says

 

[MisterCreosote]

Higher than among journalists? I tend to doubt it.

 

[The Big Ragu]

I always wonder when I see stories like that if it's the profession that causes those problems. ... or if something about the profession itself attracts people who were already susceptible to those problems.

 

[Dick Whitman]

Higher than among journalists? I tend to doubt it.

Not from what I've observed.

 

[Dick Whitman]

I'd like to know the methodology. It mentions frequency. I drink frequently, for example. But moderately. Would I be in the 20 percent?

 

[justgladtobehere]

This is not news. Weekday AA meetings in cities are filled with attorneys. Anybody who has dealt with lawyers helping lawyers programs or board discipline sees how frequently alcohol is the basis of any problem.

 

[Jake_Taylor]

Before reading up on the OJ case when American Crime Story started the other day, I had forgotten about F. Lee Bailey's flask of "coffee" in the courtroom.

 

[Brian]

My fiancee is an attorney and most of her friends are attorneys. I agree with ****. They all seem to be neurotic squares. It's a rural area, though. That might make a difference.

 

[BitterYoungMatador2]

Surprised its just alcohol to be honest. Knew a couple heavy into coke.

 

[clintrichardson]

Ban the legal profession.

 

[dixiehack]

I've heard a theory that depression and addiction tend to go untreated in lawyers because they fear disbarment, but I'm not sure how much it has been formally studied.

 

[Dick Whitman]

I've heard a theory that depression and addiction tend to go untreated in lawyers because they fear disbarment, but I'm not sure how much it has been formally studied.

I think that's definitely a factor among law students, because of all of the reporting you have to do on the Character and Fitness application. Our dean of students told us that if we were so much as hassled by a mall cop, we better report that, in case there's a record of it that they scare up. I reported getting suspended for tardies in 7th grade. (And I'm glad I did - the Bar contacted me for the address and phone number of my junior high. So I guess they'd have found it, if the record existed.)

I was written up freshman year of college for drinking in the dorm. I called the school to see if there was still a record. There wasn't. But I reported it anyway.

 

[Alma]

I'd like to know the methodology. It mentions frequency. I drink frequently, for example. But moderately. Would I be in the 20 percent?

It may depend on how you define alcoholism. I know two food addicts whose BMI is fine. Food is still their primary coping mechanism and can derail them for a weekend. I know a woman who is clearly hooked on pain pills, but it's not like she's spaced out all day. She's a contract lawyer, and a good one.

 

[Dick Whitman]

It may depend on how you define alcoholism.

I guess that's what I'm asking. A drink is food to me, I guess. Very infrequently do I drink to intoxication, or even low-level intoxication. (i.e. a "buzz.") I like the taste, the ritual, and the exploration of different styles. My alarm goes off at 3:55 every morning for my workout, so not a lot of room for hangovers. But I probably have a drink four or five nights a week, usually after putting the kids down for the night, though sometimes with dinner. Probably two or three on football Saturdays and Sundays, throughout the day. Am I part of the 20 percent?

 

[User 4332]

I'd like to know the methodology. It mentions frequency. I drink frequently, for example. But moderately. Would I be in the 20 percent?

Frequency is a big factor, but not the only one. They used the World Health Organization's Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) to survey 12,000+ lawyers on drinking habits and outcomes. Based on answers people score between 0 to 40 and if your score is above an 8, you're considered in the hazardous or harmful range. You can take the self-assessment here:

http://www.talkingalcohol.com/files/pdfs/WHO_audit.pdf

The test is on page 31 - Appendix B.

 

[User 4332]

Oh and here's the full study if you want to read it: The Prevalence of Substance Use and Other Mental Health Conc... : Journal of Addiction Medicine

The 1 in 5 number seems about right from my anecdotal experience by the way. I might have guessed more like 15 percent, but you figure some are good at hiding it.

 

[MisterCreosote]

Am I part of the 20 percent?

No.

 

[Dick Whitman]

Frequency is a big factor, but not the only one. They used the World Health Organization's Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) to survey 12,000+ lawyers on drinking habits and outcomes. Based on answers people score between 0 to 40 and if your score is above an 8, you're considered in the hazardous or harmful range. You can take the self-assessment here:

http://www.talkingalcohol.com/files/pdfs/WHO_audit.pdf

The test is on page 31 - Appendix B.

13, but it's kind of misleading, because the "remorse" and "someone telling you to cut back" have to do with weight control, not intoxication. So I might be an 8, due to blacking out at my brother's wedding. Which was at a distillery. Damn you, weddings.

 

[poindexter]

Frequency is a big factor, but not the only one. They used the World Health Organization's Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) to survey 12,000+ lawyers on drinking habits and outcomes. Based on answers people score between 0 to 40 and if your score is above an 8, you're considered in the hazardous or harmful range. You can take the self-assessment here:

http://www.talkingalcohol.com/files/pdfs/WHO_audit.pdf

The test is on page 31 - Appendix B.

I got a total score. (3, big whoop. maybe a 4). I couldn't find what that compares to. What am i missing?

 

[MisterCreosote]

I scored a 7.

For perspective, at my alcoholic worst, my score would've been 29.