Robert E. Albury, Jr., JD, LADAC, heads the Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program (TLAP) with Laura Gatrell, a certified employee assistance professional. TLAP provides assistance for lawyers, judges, bar applicants, and law students, as well as their families. Albury and Gatrell are also intimately involved in a Nashville-based organization that is developing a music CD about addiction and recovery. Knoxville and Nashville are Demand Treatment! Partners.

While TLAP provides help for stress, depression, and other personal issues, "over 50 percent of the calls we get are about substance use," said Albury. "We're primarily here to help provide treatment and monitor recovery."

Lawyers can use TLAP's free, confidential services without getting sent to the state's attorney disciplinary committee, per rules established by the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Participants can self-refer, or be sent by concerned third parties -- frequently other lawyers or judges. TLAP uses an extensive network of volunteers to do peer-to-peer interventions and 12-step program sponsorship, while medical and clinical professionals help with assessments and referrals.

"We're not bird-dogs for discipline," said Albury. "The Supreme Court has gone to great lengths to make this service confidential and free of disciplinary proceedings. We want to provide peer assistance, and protect the public."

Albury and Gatrell have also played a significant role in SHARE -- Songs of Hope, Awareness and Recovery for Everyone. Along with Walt Quinn; Amy Kurland, owner of the Bluebird Café; Debbie Carroll of MusiCares Foundation; musician/independent record label owner Al McCree; Nashville publishers Jerry Smith and Stacy Slate; and many others, SHARE has produced a CD featuring songs about addiction and recovery by Nashville country music artists. The CD features a new song that showcases 20 artists, and licensed songs including "Cheap Whiskey" by Martina McBride, "Choices" by George Jones, and "No More Looking Over My Shoulder" by Travis Tritt. The CD will be in stores this fall.

"Robert and Laura are doing a phenomenal job -- both with TLAP and as part of the SHARE project," said Pamela Anderson, director of operations at Join Together and SHARE committee member.

"We try hard to make a connection in every community in Tennessee, and participating in SHARE was a way for us to help Nashville," said Albury. "We realize that problems are not a sign of failure, but an opportunity to grow."

For more information, please visit: www.tlap.org.