Like many people of all ages, I’ve always had a fondness for old movies. Earlier this year, I finally had an opportunity to watch a classic that was on my bucket list – The Lost Weekend with Ray Milland and Jane Wyman. A winner of four Academy Awards in 1945, including Best Picture, it deals with the ravages of alcoholism. Anyone who has a family member or coworker struggling with substance abuse will find the movie strikes uncomfortably close to home. Since it’s a movie from almost 70 years ago, there was the requisite happy ending.

Unfortunately, in real life, there was no happy ending to match. The movie was based on an autobiographical novel of the same name, written in 1944 by Charles R. Jackson. Like the movie’s protagonist, Jackson cared a great deal about the human condition and cared a great deal about his craft. A lethal combination of unfulfilled expectations and continued substance abuse caused him to finally take his own life several years later.

The movie and the author were both on my mind when I had an opportunity to speak at the State Bar’s annual WisLAP Volunteer/Judicial Training conference held a few weeks ago. More than 100 judges and attorneys travelled to Madison on a beautiful Friday in August to train as peer assistance volunteers for the Wisconsin Lawyers Assistance Program. I admire their selfless service to their fellow members of the Bar. The need has never been greater.

We all had reasons for deciding to become lawyers. For some the reasons were mercenary; for others, perhaps family pressure was involved. However, my guess would be that varying degrees of altruism were involved in the decisions of the vast majority of us. We wanted to contribute to the betterment of the human condition. We wanted to excel at our craft. In addition, we all have other expectations for ourselves, our families, and our coworkers. When unmet expectations intersect with substance use, a tragic downward spiral often occurs. We lose the ability to objectively assess our own situation. By wallowing in self-criticism, disappointments are magnified and satisfaction diminishes.

WisLAP exists, among other reasons, for this type of situation. Many of our volunteers have walked down this same dark path. They are trained, but, more important, they really do care. The same altruistic beliefs that led them to become lawyers caused them to spend a beautiful Friday in August learning how they can be of service to other lawyers. They want to contribute to the betterment of the human condition through their assistance to other lawyers. They are to be commended.

If you or someone you know is struggling emotionally or physically because of substance abuse, please make the call. It is perhaps ironic, but not necessarily surprising, that many of our troubled lawyers are, or have the capacity to be, some of our best lawyers.

If there is any doubt that you or someone you know needs help, call the confidential WisLAP Helpline, (800) 543-2625. It will be one of the most important calls you ever make.