Alcohol & Drug Addiction
Alcoholism/drug addiction is not a moral issue, but rather it is a treatable illness. Chemical dependency is a chemical brain disease that may be arrested (not cured) by treatment
Some symptoms of dependency are:
- The inability to guarantee one’s actions after starting to drink or use drugs.
- Deteriorating health accompanying a pattern of heavy drinking or drugging
- Impaired ability to concentrate
- Disrupted relationships
- Denial that drinking or drugs is a problem when it is obvious to others, or
- Defiance, impatience, intolerance, impulsiveness and depression
Chemical dependency is a progressive disease; it only gets worse, never better. Once a person becomes chemically dependent, there exists a condition of anxiety relieved only by a drink or a drug and which, once relieved sets up the demand for more. Protracted alcohol and drug abuse can cause chemical changes in the brain. Once that occurs the result is chemical dependency, a chronic condition that can be successfully treated but never cured.
Recognizing this acute social and medical problem, the Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program, Inc. (JLAP) has been established to offer confidential assistance to lawyers and judges whose personal and professional lives are threatened by the impact of problems caused by alcoholism/drug addiction.
Our goal is to prevent damaged careers and reputations by providing confidential assistance in the form of insight, education, referrals to sources of professional help, and support during the recovery process so as to restore personal health and professional confidence.
Related Resources
Louisiana Lawyers’ 12-Step Groups:
Meeting Schedule
LAP Brochures:
Alcoholism & Drug Addiction in the Legal Profession
Louisiana Bar Journal Articles:
October/November 2015 – In Recovery from Alcoholism
June/July 2015 – “Enabling” the Alcoholic or Addict
October/November 2014 – Risks for Minors Using Alcohol
August/September 2014 – Intervention Saves Lives
June/July 2014 – Hitting Bottom
April/May 2014 – Death and Destruction by Denial
February/March 2014 – Reach Out in Confidence
October/November 2013 – The High-Functioning Alcoholic
June/July 2013 – The Miracles of Recovery
June/July 2012 – Identifiying Alcoholism
December 2011 – Drug Addiction From Your Medicine Cabinet?
Read more LSBA articles >>
Self-Assessment Tests:
Alcohol Abuse Self Test
Drug Abuse Self Test
Related Videos:
Video – Dangerous Minds – A short animation of what addiction is like
Related Web Links:
The 12 Steps
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) – information
Al-Anon or Al-Ateen (for Family Members of Alcoholics)
Cocaine Anonymous
Crystal Meth Anonymous
Marijuana Anonymous
Narcotics Anonymous
National Association of Children of Alcoholics
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Rational Recovery
Smart Recovery
SOS Secular Organization for Sobriety
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration