Hazelden Treatment Center, a renowned Minnesota rehabilitation center, has recently announced a brand new rehab program geared specifically toward legal professionals.
The goal of the new program is to offer specific treatment to those working in the legal profession who, because of the high stress levels of the profession, may have different rehabilitation needs. The program is the first of its kind in the state of Minnesota and costs $28,300 for 28 days of treatment.
For many this program seems long overdue. Lawyers are reportedly twice as likely to abuse alcohol as the general public and are also more likely to be diagnosed with depression.
Chuck Rice, a chemical dependency unit supervisor at Hazelden, explained that “attorneys have high-stress jobs. They have unreasonable expectations on how much they can hoist on their shoulders. Some of the qualities that attorneys have that make them good attorneys make them really bad at self care.”
Those enrolled in the program would undergo the same treatment as anyone else, in addition to attending a weekly legal professionals group therapy session, AA meetings composed solely of legal professionals, and other services tailored to their profession. Hazelden also employs staff clinicians who are lawyers.
“I think it’s great,” Avery Appelman said. “There are some special challenges that attorneys may face when trying to get into recovery. It provides them a place where they can be with their peers and understand what they’re going through.”
Related Sources:
Star Tribune
