Alcohol Detox For Lawyers, Politicians and Policemen

The effects of alcohol abuse are serious. Alcohol makes you tired and depressed. It makes daily tasks hard to do. It even makes your body want to use it again. These effects make adult life even more stressful than it already is. Being a working-class citizen requires lots of time commitment and mental strength. Alcohol detox for professionals requires a level of anonymity. Alcohol detox for lawyers requires a level of privacy in a recovery center. There can be loads of stress when dealing with detox from drugs and alcohol. Imagine that stress doubling. That is what it feels like to be a legal professional. Now, imagine being a legal professional struggling with alcoholism. There is a high demand for mental strength. But there is also a high need to drink to deal with stress.

          If you know a legal professional struggling with alcoholism, keep these things in mind.

A High Functioning Alcoholic is Still An Alcoholic  

        Many people overlook alcoholism if their loved one seems to be a high functioning alcoholic. High functioning alcoholics are people who seem fine because they still complete their daily tasks. Many professionals in high-pressure positions are heavy drinkers. There are less warning signs of their serious alcoholism because these people still go to work. They still fight crime. They still make money. They still come to dinner. They still make serious phone calls. That doesn’t mean their substance abuse isn’t a problem. It is simply hidden under a layer of hard work. 

         The effects of alcoholism sneak up daily. Withdrawing from alcohol is painful.  Alcohol begs you to continue to use it. Alcoholism can cause accidents. It can cause depression. While it may not be obvious, pay close attention to these signs. Watch for changing sleep patterns of your loved one. Watch for their eating habits and their weight changes. Watch for their emotional imbalance. Being able to function does not mean alcoholism should be swept under the rug. This means help is needed before the problem gets more severe. 

       The statistics are high for legal professionals who are alcohol abusers. They go through so much. A lawyer deals with solving the problems of others. A politician can never please every side of a problem. A policeman risks death on a weekly basis. Alcohol is around these people daily. It even calms them down after rough days. There is a huge need to cope with the stress that comes with their job. That does not need to be their chosen method of stress relief. But, unfortunately, it is. Treatment programs for legal professionals show them new ways of coping.

        Keep this in mind when you’re assessing your loved one’s behavior. If someone is doing a great job at what they do, that’s amazing. It’s not amazing if their mental health is suffering at the same time. It’s not amazing if they’re unhealthy. They won’t be able to stay high functioning forever.

     This is pessimistic, we know. But, a high functioning alcoholic still needs help. High functioning is not a cause to ignore. Rehab centers are so often ignored as an option because an addict still works hard. This cannot be the case. Don’t look the other way.  Many of these professionals are nervous that alcohol detox could be career ending. Assure them that it is better to catch the issue early before it spirals out of control.

 Inpatient Detox is Necessary 

        Legal professionals absolutely need inpatient detox.  Here’s why. Lawyers, politicians, and policemen are surrounded by triggers. Alcohol can also be a daily thing in their lives. Lawyers and politicians discuss matters over a beer. That can turn into two or three or four beers. Policemen bust underage drinking parties, they raid homes filled with alcohol. There is too much room for relapse in their normal life. This possibility needs to be removed. There needs to be a very rigid treatment plan put into place. For the first steps, outpatient therapy is not enough. 

          The jobs of lawyers, politicians, and policemen are also emotionally painful. Legal professionals help the world so often. The world needs to help them back. It is not easy to hear about divorced couples. It is not easy to find bodies. It is not easy to argue with people all day. There is so much anxiety in these jobs. They take so much mental strength. People cannot be perfect. It takes a brave heart to be able to fight crime and to defend the rights of others. To truly recover, these people simply need a break. 

        Dual diagnosis will be high for legal professionals. This combination of mental health trauma and alcoholism needs special care. Inpatient detox is a way to protect our protectors. They need continuing care while they recover. It cannot be sporadic or occur while they’re still working. The focus needs to be on them only. If they’re not living in alcohol rehab, they’re not around treatment experts. The people around them at work might not understand the difference between a casual beer drinker and an alcoholic. If they’re struggling with alcoholism, going to work daily and then attending therapy can be counterproductive. There is too much risk to drinking. They need to let caretakers be there for them. They are too often the caretakers. 

     Many addiction treatment centers offer a 10-day detox. For alcohol detox, professionals find this suitable. It is medically supervised and highly effective. This 10 days of inpatient rehab prevents farther substance abuse way more than outpatient rehab will. There is too much exposure to emotionally painful things for a legal professional to go through outpatient detox. It’s as simple as 10 days of distraction-free therapy. 

 Sober Living With These Jobs is TOUGH 

      As we said, these people are around alcohol a lot. After leaving the treatment facility, your loved one will need continued support. Continuing care is vital. Ask them how their day is going. Enjoy a nice meal with them. Ask them to exercise.

        Keep the warning signs in mind as you help them fall back into their daily life. A person who quits drinking is highly likely to relapse. Imagine sober living but simultaneously being around drugs and alcohol all the time. It’s very hard. Encourage them to wean off of alcohol detox using outpatient rehab. This way, the transition back into their intense work environment is more smooth.

        Fighting addiction and crime at the same time is also overwhelming. Be sure to use positive reinforcement. Many programs focus on family therapy during alcohol detox for professionals. This helps the family to cope with the dual diagnosis aspect of what legal professionals go through.  There are fewer people to monitor your loved one, especially when they’re on the job trying to make the world a better place. Not everyone has a problem being around drugs and alcohol. Some people do not become addicted. Some people don’t feel the need to use the things around them at work. A person who quits drinking is more likely to use than someone who has never been a big drinker.

        Often times, there are re-entry detox programs offered for recovering legal professionals. Basically, their workload is less emotionally abrasive after they finish alcohol rehab. This allows the recovering alcoholic to ease into the stress of their job, preventing relapse. Make sure you let your loved one know of this option. It will make them less anxious about returning to work. 

         We hope this guides you to more clearly understand a lawyer, politician or policeman going through rehab. We must protect those who protect so many people. They deserve it so deeply. Their work is healthy for the world, but they need to be healthy in order to do it. Do not turn a blind eye. Show them your unwavering support. Let them know that you cannot imagine the stress that work can cause them. This understanding will go a long way as they recover.