Online gambling is BIG business. By 2029, the projected market volume is expected to reach $133 BILLION. It’s no wonder that gambling disorder was recently recognized by the DSM-V as an addictive disorder.
It’s also no surprise that lawyers are especially at risk because addiction is already problematic for lawyers, who suffer disproportionate rates of mental & addictive disorders. A former alcoholic with a cocaine & sports gambling addition, Brian Quinn knows the depths of despair all too well. From being suspended from the practice of law for 5 years to serving as Education & Outreach Coordinator at LCL, Brian learned to persevere & overcome. He will share his personal story and take a deep dive into gambling addiction – including its warning signs, risks, co-morbidities, related ethical issues and the toll it takes on the legal profession. Additional topics: how LAPs (Lawyer Assistance Programs) help attorneys, the Hazelden-Betty Ford Study on Lawyer Impairment, the DSM-5: Gambling Disorder definition, the Gambling Establishment, Murphy v National Collegiate Athletic Association, Roger Goodell & The NFL, accessibility & anonymity, perfectionism, excessive self-reliance and the stigma of addiction for attorneys.
Brian S. Quinn, Esquire is a licensed attorney in Pennsylvania who currently serves as the Education and Outreach Coordinator for Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers of Pennsylvania, Inc., a Lawyers Assistance Program established in 1988 for the purpose of helping lawyers, judges and law students recover from alcoholism, drug addiction and mental health disorders.