There are a number of professions that contain higher than average statistics for cases of addiction. When forced to guess, people often think that medical professionals and wealthy CEO’s are some of the most likely to struggle with addiction, but many people are not aware that attorneys and lawyers are prone to addiction problems. The reason for this is the high stress, high pressure nature of the profession, and the overwhelming expectations that are placed on attorneys. The fast paced, demanding professional life of an attorney is not suitable for everyone. Many commit to it without understanding their own limitations and crack under the pressure as a result. It is not uncommon for attorneys to experiment with drugs, alcohol or other addictive substances and behaviors.

Sex, drugs and alcohol are among the most common addictions that attorneys struggle with. These are addictions commonly found within fast paced professions. They create strong highs and total distraction from other areas of life, such as a stressful profession. When attorneys become addicted to drugs, they are commonly addicted to strong street drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy, or strong prescription medications such as Oxycontin. They dabble in abusing these substances as a means of self medication and become hooked. Likewise, an attorney who is an alcoholic is commonly addicted to hard alcohol for the strength of its affects. And an attorney who is addicted to sex often has an insatiable appetite for sex.

Being addicted and trying to remain professionally successful does not work well for most attorneys. Addiction is known to catch up with a person and ruin them, even if this occurs slowly and gradually. Often it is coworkers and professional peers who notice the addiction problems first because they are around the individual a great deal. Being addicted can quickly hurt an attorney’s professional reputation by damaging their credibility and dependability. Being addicted will also negatively impact an attorney’s personal and family life, as well as their health. An addicted attorney needs professional intervention and rehabilitation in order to regain their mental health and their life.