AN ATTORNEY'S PERSONAL STORY OF ADDICTION AND RECOVERY

Matt is a 40 year old attorney and partner in a well respected law firm. He developed addictions to alcohol, cocaine and opioids. His life at work and home became unmanageable and out of control. After multiple outpatient treatments failed, Matt entered an out of state residential treatment program that offered a specialized track for impaired professionals. Matt discusses the Hazelden/American Bar Association research that shows that attorneys are at a much higher risk for mental health and addiction problems than the general population. He shares his thoughts on how the legal culture has historically set attorneys up to develop addiction. What is it about practicing law and the legal culture that puts an attorney at risk for Substance Use Disorders and Workaholism? He outlines what the American Bar Association and some law firms are doing to increase awareness of the problem and focus on prevention and treatment of mental health and addiction problems. Matt outlines the reasons many attorneys keep their addiction secret and avoid entering treatment. He shares how he structures his practice to optimize work-life balance and sustain his recovery from addiction and offers advice to both people graduating from law school and attorneys who are struggling with an addiction problem currently. Matt shares his life changing experience in rehab and the importance of 12 step programs in his recovery. He explains the reason behind setting up an AA meeting specific to attorneys and his role in his State Bar Association's Lawyer's Assistance Program.