Avoid the lawyer. Deny the lawyer's drinking problem When colleagues react these ways, they are contributing to the course of the alcoholism by softening or removing the pain the alcoholic would otherwise normally experience form drinking. That involvement allows or enables the impaired lawyer to be deluded into believing that the problems can be corrected with everyone's help. It also deludes family and friends into believing that there must be something they could do differently to stop the drinking, or, alternatively, that the situation is beyond hope and the alcoholic cannot be helped. It is not necessary to be an expert on the symptoms and progression of the disease to become a part of the solution.
Early intervention provides the best chance of helping the alcoholic.
An alcoholic predictably exhibits identifiable characteristics of emotional disruption, destructive conduct, interpersonal difficulty and responsibility avoidance. If several indicators are present and the person continues to drink inappropriately despite continuing problems related to the drinking, it may be time to give serious consideration to intervention. If you have any questions call Betty Daugherty for confidential inquiry. The LJAP is Attorneys helping Attorneys. All communications are confidential.