Did you know that 45% of attorneys in the United States report experiencing depression during their careers?
This can be attributed to several factors. Some may have difficult home lives or be going through life-changing events, while others may find themselves burning out in their careers. There is no one cause of mental health issues.
Yet, mental health issues sometimes also lead to substance abuse. 21% of attorneys struggle with alcohol abuse, and many others intake an unhealthy amount of other substances, including prescription drugs.
If you find yourself addicted to drugs, you might wonder about addiction treatment for lawyers. What types of rehab programs are available to you, and are there any drug addiction treatment centers that might help?
Keep reading to learn more!
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The Lawyer and Addiction
Lawyers do incredible work. Every day, they use the law to protect the rights of their clients, help companies shield themselves from unjust claims or assist people in getting the justice they deserve. Their work heavily impacts the lives of other people, and most attorneys can point to cases they’ve won and people they’ve helped.
Still, this doesn’t mean the life of a lawyer isn’t stressful. On the contrary, they often have heavy caseloads, deal with mounds of debt from law school, and might even suffer from compassion fatigue if they routinely work with many vulnerable people. The stress of having people relying on you to make such massive differences in their lives often weighs heavily on a lawyer’s shoulders.
This often causes attorneys to develop mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety. They may also seek to cope with the stress of their work by ingesting alcohol or drugs.
Of course, alcohol and drug addiction negatively impact the lives and health of many people. You may find yourself experiencing dips in your physical health. Often, addiction gets in the way of relationships, causing or exacerbating problems at home.
Some even experience the consequences of being unable to control their urges, resulting in them coming to work under the influence.
Addiction and Stigma
If you serve as an attorney, you may be familiar with the pressure to maintain a very precise public image. Some lawyers worry about the impact on their reputation if it becomes known that they have sought help for their addiction.
This stigma is hardly new. For many years, society has held the erroneous stance that seeking help for mental health conditions and substance abuse constitutes something shameful.
Fortunately, though, opinions in the United States are changing. Many people have spoken out about their addictions online, raising awareness about it and humanizing the subject. In fact, a lot of people now believe that others should seek the treatment they need.
If you find yourself facing the dilemma of whether or not to get addiction treatment, think of it this way: it is difficult for you to serve your clients when you aren’t feeling your best physically and mentally. In order to help them, you need to first take good care of yourself. As such, you should seek out addiction treatment for lawyers.
The American Bar Association and Getting Help
If you still worry about the stigma, know that you have support. The American Bar Association (ABA) has launched a campaign to end the stigma around mental health, and they offer a confidential program for you or anyone in the profession who needs help.
Our center offers professional treatments to people with all kinds of addictions, including alcohol, heroin, meth, benzodiazepine, opioids, cocaine, and marijuana.
How to Get Addiction Treatment for Lawyers
So, do you need to know how to get addiction treatment for lawyers?
When you first start to seek out treatment, you might feel a bit overwhelmed. Choosing the type of alcohol or drug addiction treatment you want to receive is important, as it needs to help you and fit with your lifestyle. Below, we’ll go into some of the things you should consider when choosing where to get treatment.
In-Patient vs. Out-Patient Rehab
When people first start researching rehab, they encounter the words “in-patient” and “out-patient” fairly quickly. But what do these both mean?
Both in-patient and out-patient describe a type of therapy. In in-patient therapy, the person seeking treatment lives at the treatment facility for a period of time, participating in recovery activities and interacting with professionals. During out-patient treatment, people still participate in recovery activities during the day, but they live at home.
Which one works best for you depends on your particular situation. If you live with others who abuse alcohol or drugs, we recommend coming to in-patient treatment in order to rid yourself of any potential temptations. If you have a supportive, drug and alcohol-free community at home, though, you may prefer out-patient treatment.
Ask About Specific Therapies
Every rehabilitation center does its treatments slightly differently.
In our case, we start with a drug and alcohol detox, during which all drugs and alcohol are cleansed from the body. We also use group therapy, one-on-one counseling, dialectical behavior therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, and contingency management in order to help patients recover and thrive. We also provide aftercare programs.
If you want to know about how a treatment facility helps its patients, don’t hesitate to contact its staff and ask!
Are You Ready to Start Recovering?
Are you ready to get addiction treatment for lawyers?
Many attorneys suffer from addiction, and so we commend you for seeking help. Even though addiction is common in this profession, it is sometimes accompanied by stigma, which may prevent lawyers from seeking help. Yet, if you do get treatment, you will find yourself healthier and be able to better work for your clients.
By following the advice above, you should be able to find a treatment facility and approach that works for you.
Interested in taking advantage of our expert services? Contact us today to learn more and get enrolled in our life-changing programs!
Medically Reviewed: September 25, 2019
All of the information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a certified addiction professional.
Get Help Today
Don’t go through the process of recovery alone. There are people who can help you with the struggle you’re facing. Get in touch with one today.