1. The Current Rates of Substance Use, Anxiety and Depression Among U. S
The Current Rates of Substance Use, Anxiety and Depression Among U.S. Attorneys
Krill, Johnson and Albert,
Published 2016 Journal of Addiction Medicine

2. ABA, Hazelden Betty Ford Study-2015
12,825 licensed employed attorneys & judges
Males 53.4%
Females 46.5%
Transgender .1%
Diversity of race
Asian 1.2%
Black/African American 2.5%
Caucasian/White 90.9%
Latino/Hispanic 2.6%
Native American .3%
Other .7%
Missing .5%

3. Alcohol Use Screening Test
Using the Audit 10 Questions
20.6 % scored at a level consistent with problematic drinking on the Audit 10 Questions
Problematic drinking = hazardous drinking and possible dependence
More males than females among lawyers
Using the Audit 3 Questions
Physicians 15% problematic drinking
Lawyers 36.4%
More females than males among lawyers
Position in the field
Higher scores for those working in private firms
Bar Associations

4. Self Reporting of Alcohol or Substance Concerns
22.6% felt their use of alcohol or substances was a problem sometime during their lives
27.6% reported problematic use prior to law school
14.2% reported problematic use started during law school
43.7 % reported problematic use started within the first 15 years following law school
14.5% reported problematic use started more than 15 years after law school.

5. ABA/Hazelden-Betty Ford Study Problematic Drinking

6. The Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST)
Percentage of Use: 24% in the Intermediate to Severe Range of Use
Low rates of use = 76%
Intermediate = 20.9%
Substantial = 3.0%
Severe = .01%
Substances Used
Sedatives = 15.7%
Marijuana = 10.2%
Opioids = 5.6%
Stimulants = 4.8%
Cocaine = 0.8%

7. Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS)
Males have higher levels of depression than females
Rates decreases as age increases
Higher rates in junior positions

8. ANXIETY AND STRESS Anxiety = 19% Females higher than males
Higher scores on alcohol use scale correlated with higher scores on the depression, anxiety and stress scale.
Scores on the depression, anxiety and stress scale deceased as age and years in the field increased, similar to the scores on the alcohol use scale.

9. Self-Reporting of Mental Health Concerns
National Data Wisconsin Data Anxiety = 61% Anxiety = 86% Depression = 45.7% Depression = 64% Social Anxiety = 16.1% Social Anxiety = 21% ADHD = 16.1% ADHD = 13.2% Panic Disorder = 8% Panic Disorder = 10% Bipolar Disorder = 2.4% Bipolar Disorder = 4.1%

10. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS AODA PROBLEMATIC USE OF ALCOHOL = 21 - 34%
INTERMEDIATE TO SEVERE DRUG USE PROBLEMS = 24%
MENTAL HEALTH
DEPRESSION = 28%
ANXIETY = 19%
STRESS = 23%

11. Young Lawyers Have the Highest Levels of
Depression Problematic Drinking Distress Symptoms

12. Top Ten Skills New Lawyers Need in the Short Term
Keeping Confidentiality
Arriving on time
Honoring Commitments
Integrity and trustworthiness
Treating others with courtesy and respect
Listening attentively and respectfully
Responding promptly
Diligence
Have a strong work ethic
Paying attention to detail
Gerkman and Cornett, 2014 Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System

13. Suggestions for Firms Acknowledge the issues.
Assess your firm’s culture, philosophy and history.
Define your firm’s goals.
Evaluate your firm’s policies, protocols and practices.
Invest in education, training, guidance and support.
Change.
Track progress.

14. Obligations With Respect to Mentally Impaired Lawyer in the Firm
If a lawyer's mental impairment is known to partners in a law firm or a lawyer having direct supervisory authority over the impaired lawyer, steps must be taken that are designed to give reasonable assurance that such impairment will not result in breaches of the Model Rules.
If the mental impairment of a lawyer has resulted in a violation of the Model Rules, an obligation may exist to report the violation to the appropriate professional authority.
If the firm removes the impaired lawyer in a matter, it may have an obligation to discuss with the client the circumstances surrounding the change of responsibility.
If the impaired lawyer resigns or is removed from the firm, the firm may have disclosure obligations to clients who are considering whether to continue to use the firm or shift their relationship to the departed lawyer, but must be careful to limit any statements made to ones for which there is a factual foundation.
The obligation to report a violation of the Model Rules by an impaired lawyer is not eliminated by departure of the impaired lawyer.
ABA Formal Ethics Opinion

15. Lawyer's Duty to Report Another Lawyer Who May Suffer from Disability or Impairment
“A lawyer who believes that another lawyer's known violations of disciplinary rules raise substantial questions about her fitness to practice must report those violations to the appropriate professional authority.”
“A lawyer who believes that another lawyer's mental condition materially impairs her ability to represent clients, and who knows that that lawyer continues to do so, must report that lawyer's consequent violation of Rule 1.16(a)(2), which requires that she withdraw from the representation of clients.”
ABA Formal Ethics Opinion

16. Thank you!