Page 26 - January 2020 BarJournal

COLUMNMENTAL HEALTH & WELLNESS

WHAT’S YOUR

STORY?

Scott R. Mote Esq.

t the Ohio Lawyers Assistance sign of strength and courage. The weakness her pattern of drinking had progressed. OLAP
Program, we assist lawyers, is believing the lie that you can do it on your recommended an intense outpatient program,
judges and law students cope own. and T.W. started her recovery.
with life’s stresses. A common T.W. got sober in the second semester of her
A theme we see is that many people T.W., a homesick party girl second year of law school. She made the dean’s
wait until they hit rock bottom to contact us. T.W. started drinking heavily in list and graduated cum laude.
Why do so many shy away from getting help? The undergraduate school. Originally from Texas,
biggest reason we hear is they fear that others will she moved to Ohio to attend law school and to P.B., a non-traditional law student in denial
find out that they are struggling. They are afraid get away from the “town drunk” stigma. She soon P.B. was a non-traditional student with two
of the stigma that sometimes goes hand in hand learned that law school was cut-throat and not as small children, who began drinking at 15.
with mental health and substance abuse issues. easy as undergrad. She did not do well her first After she got divorced, she went to college
I can assure you that OLAP is confidential. semester in law school. She missed her family and then to law school. Although she didn’t
When you contact OLAP about yourself in Texas and didn’t have many friends in Ohio, struggle in law school, her drinking problem
or a colleague, anything you discuss with so she resorted to going out and drinking, even progressed. She could control when she started
OLAP will be protected by strong rules of though the whole reason she moved to Ohio was drinking, but then had no control over how
confidentiality: to get away from the stigma of being a drunk. much she drank, which always led to drinking
Prof. Cond. Rule 8.3 provides an exemption When T.W. went out with classmates, she more than she intended. She didn’t think she
from the duty to report knowledge of ethical didn’t drink the way she wanted to. She was had a problem because she was accomplishing
violations when that knowledge was obtained concerned about her reputation and didn’t so much.
in the course of OLAP’s work. want other people to see the “drunk” that she After law school, P.B. got a federal clerkship
Code of Judicial Conduct Rule 2.14 provides was. She was able to control her drinking so and worked for a judge, but her drinking
that information obtained by a member or that she didn’t get too drunk, but once she got continued. She knew her drinking was
agent of a bar of judicial association shall be home, she drank alone until she passed out. abnormal, but was in denial because she was
privileged. She would then go to class the next morning still able to go to work and carry on with her
R.C. § 2305.28 provides qualified immunity reeking of booze and finding it difficult to responsibilities. She would tell herself that
from civil liability for OLAP staff (B and C) grasp what was going on in class. she would drink like a normal person once
and for anyone who provides information to Her grades soon began to suffer and she was she achieved certain goals, but that never
OLAP (D). put on academic probation. On top of that, she happened. She was drinking to get drunk.
On the other hand, telling your story can missed her family and became depressed. She P.B. soon met a great guy, got married, and
help others. When others see that recovery is drank to cope with her depression. bought a farm. On the outside, everything
possible and that seeking help is appropriate She started skipping class and didn’t in P.B.’s life was great, but she was depressed.
and necessary, it helps relieve the stigma, study, because was she was very depressed She continued to drink to get drunk and
it gives comfort to those who are afraid to and getting obliterated frequently. She got her drinking was progressing. She didn’t
surrender to their addictions. When you to the point of considering suicide as a final understand that her alcoholism is a disease.
share your story and speak openly about your solution to a temporary problem, and she was She started to drink every day, even though
struggles, it helps others tell their stories and hospitalized. when she got out of bed in the morning, she
seek help. Shortly after being hospitalized, T.W. called would tell herself she wasn’t going to drink
The stories that follow are from three a professor and told him about her situation. today. She tried to control it, but failed.
courageous women lawyers who share their The professor recommended the Ohio Lawyers P.B. soon got sick and tired of being sick
stories so that others can understand that Assistance Program. She called OLAP, went in, and tired. She was often sick, was depressed
seeking help is not a sign of weakness. It’s a and had an assessment that made her realize and started lying to her doctors and therapists.

26 | CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN BAR JOURNAL CLEMETROBAR.ORG