New research has shown that alcoholism is on the march amongst the professions in Britain, with lawyers leading the way with an impressive 24% suffering with addiction issues during their careers.
During a behavioural health conference in Ireland last week, calls were made for governments to take action to deal with a serious problem. Lawyers seem to be the most at risk, with between 15% and 25% of the profession admitting to a problem relationship with booze. And doctors don't do much better, being three times more likely than the average Briton to get cirrhosis of the liver, the classic ailment of the hardened alcoholic.
What's more, it seems that highly educated professionals often find it difficult to seek help. Not that there's any shortage of those willing to help lawyers who recognise they have a problem: with LawCare in particular being funded by the Law Society, amongst others, to provide free counselling services to lawyers.
During a behavioural health conference in Ireland last week, calls were made for governments to take action to deal with a serious problem. Lawyers seem to be the most at risk, with between 15% and 25% of the profession admitting to a problem relationship with booze. And doctors don't do much better, being three times more likely than the average Briton to get cirrhosis of the liver, the classic ailment of the hardened alcoholic.
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A filing cabinet in a lawyer's office, yesterday |
What's more, it seems that highly educated professionals often find it difficult to seek help. Not that there's any shortage of those willing to help lawyers who recognise they have a problem: with LawCare in particular being funded by the Law Society, amongst others, to provide free counselling services to lawyers.
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A couple of articles from the antipodes:
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/playing-at-the-fringe-of-the-binge-20090506-ava2.html
http://www.nationaltimes.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/close-bars-early-to-stop-alcoholfuelled-violence-20100409-ryns.html
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