Drug Addiction in IB

Briefly dated a VP at PJT a few years ago. He admitted he had a "slight addiction to coke" in a lighthearted/jokey way. Didn't work out obviously.

I'm thinking back at this now and I feel bad. I dont ever want to turn out like him. My friends have done a bump or two when we go clubbing once in a while. But it's not a regular thing.

How common is this? I know it's rare but you never know what happens behind closed doors.

dont't know anyone else that's going through addiction in my network, but obviously its not something you share.

Was his work/life really that miserable, he had to turn to regular use of drugs? The answer is probably yes and it's really sad. He was a douchebag dating-wise but I hope he's alright.

Wondering what others' thoughts & experiences are.

8 Comments
 
Most Helpful

The moment I realized I had a problem was when I started deepthroating the key to get the fun tingly sensation in the bathroom of Phebe’s and ended up going home with hopefully someone of age and then shat myself mid-thrust while climaxing. I ended up leaving before anyone could process what happened.

Anyways, I think it’s pretty common in banking but you usually outgrow it once you get into your 30s— Though my VP was chill cuz when I was an intern, all the Analyst 1s asked him to bring us a bag to Brass Monkey and he left his wife in labor to help us out… Damn I miss him.

 

It's rough because what you described feels like a "quiet epidemic" in high-stress industries. Some turn to coke, others to alcohol, and most people don't see it unless they're inside that circle. I've had friends who managed to keep it hidden for years until it all collapsed at once. 

That's the part that scares me the most, it sneaks up. Rehab centers like Legacy Healing Center talk about this exact issue, the high-functioning professional who looks fine on the outside but is burning out fast.

 

Dolorem quidem aut dolor fugiat error est exercitationem excepturi. Libero quia aperiam et quis itaque. Perspiciatis aut mollitia architecto quia. Consequuntur esse vel suscipit praesentium explicabo consectetur cupiditate. Distinctio consequuntur cum et. Qui dolores eveniet sit quidem.

Et et quasi aut harum. Animi quas dolores quisquam ut. Modi laboriosam doloremque animi ad velit.

Et eaque veritatis dolorum praesentium. Delectus repellat sit rerum consequatur est.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (66) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”