from Hacker News

The Lawyer, the Addict

by jejune06 on 7/15/17, 5:50 PM with 5 comments

  • by tmp-20150107 on 7/16/17, 11:00 PM

    > list of New Year’s resolutions [from 2014] and in red marker, the word “quit.”

    This is so true. Most addicts actually DO want to stop, but it's fucking hard. And trying to explain to an employer "Hi, I'd like a month off, so I can start quitting heroin. Oh, and when I get back to work after that, I'll be unpredictably angry and depressed, with an uncontrollable sleep cycle..." I have notebooks with TODO lists going back a decade plus with the words "Quit Heroin" somewhere near the top, and I'm still trying. I don't know how to get employers to be sympathetic towards what is, after all, just another (mental) health issue - well, maybe that answers my question ;(

    I'd be interested in how many software engineers have drug addiction problems, I don't know how common it is. And there should really be some kind of self-help group for us to discuss issues and provide support for each other, since most addiction support networks assume you are homeless and unemployed, and focus on providing that basic structure and stability to their lives. As an employed engineer, I have that, it's the next steps I need help with.

  • by bearton on 7/16/17, 7:05 PM

    A powerful (but sad) story and an enlighting message that applies to all professions, not just lawyers.