The sobering statistics behind unhealthy alcohol use in the legal profession and the benefits of going dry for a month
Content warning: discussion of substance use
As we all excitedly plan our Halloween haunts and reading week festivities, it might be worthwhile to look into a truly frightening topic: unhealthy alcohol use in the legal profession. Full disclosure: I enjoy an occasional glass of port or a fine Chianti, so this article is not meant to be a pious recital on the ills of alcohol. Rather, it is meant to raise awareness of the frequency with which many in our chosen career path imbibe.
The Legal Profession Assistance Conference of Canada (LPAC) compiled studies across jurisdictions and found that the rate of alcoholism among lawyers ranged from 15 to 24 percent. Similarly, the American Addiction Centers (AAC) estimated that up to one in five attorneys struggle with problem drinking—twice the national average. It is clear that this is an undeniable problem in the legal profession. The Law Society of Ontario (LSO) has also acknowledged that lawyers may be at higher risk for alcoholism and substance use.
Unfortunately, while this problem is known, it is very difficult to address—particularly with the well-documented “work hard, play hard” culture that seems to glorify substance use. It seems then that the onus is on the individual who plans on entering the profession to develop robust coping mechanisms to deal with the stresses of the job in healthy ways. This is much more easily said than done, but one recommendation that keeps popping up online is to challenge oneself to go dry for a month.
The UK-based non-profit Alcohol Change UK encourages individuals to give up alcohol for the month of January. It claims that going without alcohol for just one month can result in noticeably better sleep, better health, and saves money. This is significant because insufficient sleep, poor health, and financial strains are all tied to higher stress levels. As we all can attest to, stress is definitely not in short supply come November when exams and assignments start creeping, so it’s beneficial to take mitigating action.
In addition to improved liver health, other health benefits include improved blood pressure, mental health, and clearer skin. There is also research that after the month is up, the majority of those who return to drinking do so more moderately than before for the following six months, bolstering the longer-term benefits of going dry for one month. This can be key to developing good habits before entering the legal profession. Obviously, if you are someone who is seriously concerned about your alcohol consumption, you should seek professional advice on how to proceed. But if you’re “sober curious” or just concerned about your long-term health as an attorney, maybe the best cure for your Halloween hangover isn’t pickle juice or ibuprofen but a no alcohol November.
