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8 ■ JUNE 14, 2021 NEWS

■ From BETH GRIFFIN on PAGE 7 stress and depression and financial
She says the 2021 Memorial worries. A lot of our population
Day weekend marked 31 years of was dependent on the courts be-
sobriety for her. After 15 years as Lawyers ing opened and that also affected
Griffin helps facilitate meetings Concerned for Lawyers their stress level.”
for attorneys with addiction at Connecticut’s executive While the meetings in Rocky
the group’s headquarters in Rocky director, Beth Griffin has Hill and the other locations of the
Hill every Wednesday. There are announced she will be nonprofit were held in person, that
also attorney-only meetings in departing her post. David all changed in March 2020 because
New London, New Haven and Williams will take over on of the coronavirus. It was then that
New Canaan. July 1. the meetings switched over to a
Griffin estimates that more than Zoom format. About 20 attorneys
2,000 attorneys have contacted take part weekly in the Rocky Hill
her office seeking support or help meetings, she said.
with an addiction or mental health Now, she said, the meetings will
challenge. be hybrid—some in person and some via Zoom—
“The program works,” said Griffin, who noted it with the hope of returning to all in-person meetings
uses a 12-step program similar to Alcoholic Anony- again down the road.
mous to battle such addictions as drug, alcohol, sex “The beauty of doing Zoom is that we have been
and gambling. able to connect with Connecticut lawyers who do
“It’s not about me,” Griffin said. “It’s not the not live here anymore,” Griffin said. “They are part
Beth Griffin Assistance Program. It’s the lawyers’ of our family, but now live in other states.”
assistance program.” While Williams takes over in his new role July 1,
“You hear all the cliches,” she said. “They tell me Griffin she say she plans on helping with the transi-
the program saved their life, saved their marriage, tion for a few months.
saved their practice, or saved their career.” She said, “I want to make the transition as smooth
The global health pandemic has hit attorneys with as possible.” ■
addictions particularly hard, she said.
“It’s definitely affected more attorneys. It has im- Robert Storace covers legal trends, lawsuits and
pacted people in different ways. There is stress and analysis for the Connecticut Law Tribune. Follow
anxiousness across the spectrum,” Griffin said. him on Twitter @RobertSCTLaw or reach him at
“There are feelings, because of the pandemic, of 203-437-5950.

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