The author of the article, Lisa F. Smith, managed to endure 10 years as an active substance user while maintaining her job in a law firm by keeping her addiction hidden and performing her job duties despite the addiction. She maintained an appearance of productivity and normality, never losing a job or receiving a negative performance review. She was able to keep odd hours like many of her colleagues, which likely helped disguise her substance use. Her high functioning despite her addiction may also be attributed to the high-pressure environment of the legal profession, where long hours and intense work are the norms, and her own determination to succeed.
Smith also shares that other lawyers struggle with a range of issues, including eating disorders, compulsive shopping habits, and extreme exercise addictions. These issues are likely coping mechanisms for the stress and pressure associated with the legal profession, similar to substance use (Smith, 2016). She compares lawyers to surgeons, noting that surgeons have half the rate of problem drinking as lawyers. However, surgeons also experience high levels of stress and pressure in their field, leading to their own struggles with addiction and mental health issues.
The barriers to lawyers seeking help are significant. The primary barrier is the fear of others finding out about their need for help, which is compounded by the stigma associated with alcoholism and drug addiction in law firms. Lawyers worry about the professional and personal repercussions of revealing their struggles with substance abuse (Seear, 2019).
This fear is so pervasive that it can prevent lawyers from seeking potentially life-saving treatment, leading them to opt for less effective, more secretive options to avoid disclosing their situation to their employers. The culture of the legal profession, which prizes confidentiality and a strong professional image, reinforces these barriers, making it difficult for lawyers to acknowledge their need for help and access the support systems available to them.
References
Seear, K. (2019). Law, Drugs and the making of addiction: Just Habits. Routledge.
Smith, L. F. (2016). Girl walks out of a bar: A Memoir. SelectBooks, Inc.