NCJ Number
116326
Journal
Dickinson Law Review Volume: 92 Issue: 3 Dated: (Spring 1988) Pages: 609-614
Date Published
1988
Length
6 pages
Annotation
In 1982, the Oregon State Bar Professional Liability Fund initiated the Alcohol and Chemical Dependency Program to help attorneys suffering from substance abuse problems.
Abstract
The program has two full-time, attorney-counselors who locate chemically-dependent individuals in the legal field and encourage them to seek a program of recovery. The program enlists the help of recovering attorneys to provide support to chemically dependent individuals. Referrals come from recovering attorneys, partners, family members, secretaries, and judges. While a chemically dependent attorney is in treatment, the attorney support network contacts him or her regularly and provides help and support during the difficult period of early recovery. In 1987, there were over 200 recovering attorneys in the program. Half of these had had claims against them related to professional conduct during their drinking careers. After sobriety, the incidence of claims has dropped to 3 percent. Because chemical dependency is associated with declining personal and professional performance, Bar associations in other States should be encouraged to institute programs of assistance similar to Oregon's. 21 footnotes.