I think we are really in very dangerous territory when we say lawyers should do whatever is necessary to keep up with the work. The real point is the profession needs to change dramatically and we need to see transformation in terms of people’s ability to separate from work and the demands that are made.
Whether it’s alcohol, whether it’s cocaine, whether it’s opioids, whether it’s stimulants, it’s that people are feeling overwhelmed by their lives, and so they are self-medicating in whatever way seems to work for them. I would say substance abuse generally is a symptom of overwork, the demands that don’t seem to stop.
— Stacey Dougan, a former Biglaw attorney-turned-mental-health counselor, commenting on the dangers of attorneys’ use and abuse of Adderall, as well as other addictive substances. “[Adderall] can be a very seductive medication. You get this surge of energy, and can be very focused and get a lot done,” she said. “But there’s a reason why it’s a controlled substance. And that’s because it is very powerful, and should only be used by someone who has a medical need for it.”
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Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.