Andrew McKenna
Author—Consultant—Speaker
E-mail: andrewmckenna0113@yahoo.com
Tel: 518-269-8306
Website: andrewjamesmckenna.com
Below is some information about substance use, abuse, and addiction that may be of some help
to you. Included are a number of resources available to you, a family or friend, or perhaps a
colleague that appears to be headed for trouble.
Common Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Abuse Include:
Alcohol abuse is a pattern of drinking that results in harm to one’s health, interpersonal
relationships, or ability to work including:
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Repeatedly Neglecting Responsibilities: Because of drinking, repeatedly neglecting
responsibilities at home, work, or school. For example, neglecting the children,
performing poorly at work, poor or failing grades in school, or skipping out on work,
school, personal or social commitments because you’re hung over.
Alcohol Use in Dangerous Situations: The use of alcohol in situations where it can be
physically dangerous, such as drinking and driving, drinking in a bad neighborhood,
mixing alcohol with prescription medication against the advice of your doctor.
Legal Problems Due to Drinking: If, due to drinking, you are experiencing repeated legal
problems. For example, drunk and disorderly conduct, domestic disputes, driving under
the influence.
Continued Drinking Despite Relationship Problems: Alcohol is causing or making
problems worse in your relationships with your friends, family or spouse, and you
continue to drink. For example, fighting with your family because they don’t like how
you act when you drink.
Drinking to De-Stress: Many drinking problems start when people use alcohol to relieve
stress. Because alcohol is a sedative drug, over time, you will need more alcohol to have
the same effect.
ncadd.org/learn-about-alcohol/signs-and-symptoms
Drug Abuse and Addiction:
Problems can sometimes sneak up on you, as what began as innocent casual or medically
necessary use gradually increases over time. Gradually, getting and using the drug becomes
more and more important to you.
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If the drug fulfills a valuable need, you may find yourself increasingly relying on it. For
example, you may take drugs to calm you if you feel anxious or stressed, energize you if
you feel depressed, or make you more confident in social situations if you normally feel
shy. Or you may have started using prescription drugs to cope with panic attacks or
relieve chronic pain, for example. Until you find alternative, healthier methods for
overcoming these problems, your drug use will likely continue.
Similarly, if you use drugs to fill a void in your life, you’re more at risk of crossing the line
from casual use to drug abuse and addiction. To maintain healthy balance in your life,
you need to have other positive experiences, to feel good in your life aside from any
drug use.
As drug abuse takes hold, you may miss or frequently be late for work or school, your
job performance may progressively deteriorate, and you start to neglect social or family
obligations. Your ability to stop using is eventually compromised.
http://www.helpguide.org/articles/addiction/drug-abuse-and-addiction.htm
Additional Resources:
New York State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Program
Patricia Spataro, LAP Director
Phone: 1-800-255-0569
Confidential e-mail: nysbalap@hushmail.com
www.nysba.org/lap
“Lawyers Helping Lawyers” group meets the first Wednesday of every month at the NYS
Bar Association, 1 Elk Street, Albany, N.Y. 12207
Alcoholics Anonymous: http://aaalbanyny.org/meetings
12-Step self-help, peer-to-peer, one-hour meetings, run by fellow alcoholics wishing to
get help, help others, and to remain anonymous.
Conifer Park Outpatient: www.coniferpark.com
Get evaluated by substance abuse professionals and learn treatment options.
St. Peter’s Substance Abuse Recovery Center:
www.sphcs.org/addictionrecoverysparc.com
Detox facility at Albany’s St. Peter’s Hospital and outpatient services.