The epidemic of mental illness, alcoholism and substance abuse in lawyers, the Dorian Grays of our times

So, lawyers are more predisposed to mental illness, alcoholism and substance abuse than other professions in the U.S.

It is the statistics, see here, too.

And why should anybody be surprised?

Imagine that you poured time, effort, thousands of dollars in savings (yours or your parents'), incurred nearly or over a hundred thousand dollars in debt - and voila - you got your law license.

And that to keep your law license intact and keep it producing income for you and your family, you need not to speak up when you see judges, prosecutors, influential attorneys, friends-family-colleagues of judges, prosecutors, influential attorneys and other government officials commit misconduct in front of your very eyes.

Because if you do, you will lose our law license, investment into it, reputation, possibility to work in any decently paid profession, and with that you may lose your savings, home, car, you will divorce, be ordered to pay child support, put in jail for non-payment of child support and what not else.

So - you know that your conscience (if you have any such intangible substance left) tells you to do one thing.

But your sense of self-preservation tells you to just shut up and suck up.

But - your conscience, the stubborn sucker, continues to eat at you.

What is the ultimate solution?

Booze and drugs, of course.  The imaginary escape from the dreadful reality.

It can get to you though.

Suicide rates among lawyers is also among the highest in American professions...

The Dorian Gray's Picture is calling to American lawyers, who are increasingly becoming the "honorable" drunk and high nuts...

That is the price the profession pays for dishonesty as the basis of its operation.