Jennifer Storm

Recovering lesbian describes her life in sobriety in Leave the Light On
By Liz Massey

Riding the Storm Out

Many young adults hit a major turning point in their early 20s. For some, it stems from the reality of having to find that first job after college; for others, it’s sparked by a realization that a relationship, or a career path, has turned out not to be all it seemed.

But for Jennifer Storm, age 22 arrived with a truth that rested on the edge of the razor she used to slash her wrists with during a suicide attempt: she was an alcoholic and drug addict and her life had become unmanageable. After 10 years of abusing alcohol and cocaine, Storm landed in a rehab facility after this desperate act — and began a new chapter of her life.
“Rehab was the jolt that I needed to put it all into perspective,” she said. “It was absolutely critical … it saved my life.”
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Lesbians and Substance Abuse – Curve Magazine – Web Articles 2010
Part three of Victoria Brownworth’s social issues series: Why are Lesbians at risk of alcoholism and drug abuse?

Lindsay Lohan looked surly and sexy on May 24 as she appeared in court for a mandatory hearing. Her hair dyed black, she wore a low-cut white blouse and a black suit. No doubt Lohan thought she looked demure. No doubt she also didn’t think being late for the hearing after having missed her last court date was a problem. But to anyone who has dealt with a family member, lover or friend with addiction, Lohan looked like what she is: an addicted woman out of control of her life.

Lohan, 23, has become a poster child for lesbians with addictions. Her very public break up with dyke DJ Samantha Ronson was, according to numerous tabloid reports, a direct result of Lohan’s equally public drunkenness and drug abuse. When the couple split last year, Lohan was literally falling down drunk in public.

At the May 24 hearing, Lohan was ordered to abstain from alcohol and drugs and to wear an alcohol monitoring device. She tried arguing with the judge, but her attorney silenced her. Yet by June 8, the device had allegedly gone off  at a party after the MTV Movie Awards show and Lohan’s freedom was in jeopardy.

One more such incident and Lohan will be imprisoned for violating the terms of her probation for DUI and being caught with cocaine on her person.

Lohan may be a very public face of lesbian substance abuse, but she is only one of thousands of American lesbians suffering from addictions to alcohol and drugs.

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So with Oprah leaving daytime talk, she is searching for new show ideas for her very own network. She is holding an open casting call for a new and innovative show idea and I submitting a video!

View my video and vote for me if you think my idea is worthy.

My show would be a very frank and candid discussion about Addiction in America. It seems that almost every day we are hearing stories of people who are dying from untreated addictions. Our country is consumed with the idea of addiction, we are fascinated by those who die from this horrible epidemic yet we aren’t providing viable solutions to this problem. I would love to host a show that would really discuss the ins and outs of addiction. What is a real addiction and what isn’t? How do we prevent addiction? How do we reach out a hand and help an active addict? Are we over drugging our children with pharmaceuticals and creating addictions while we try to treat compulsive disorders? Are we confusing compulsive disorders with true addiction? And if so how do we tell the difference and how to do we offer alternative solutions to compulsive disorders that do not create addictions?

In the follow-up to Blackout Girl, her memoir of alcohol addiction, author Storm continues her compelling journey to fulfillment as a functional, substance-free human being. Fresh from a 28-day rehabilitation program, Storm finds she must shed many friends and routines from her past in order to work her 12-Step AA program and move forward in her life. Along the way, Storm chronicles her day-to-day in its frustrations and mundane details, but also faces a life-threatening medical emergency, comes out as a lesbian, has a first gay sexual encounter, plans the first-ever Penn State Queer Prom, and finds her passion as an activist. Throughout, she relates her story with candor, humor, and insight, making this an engaging and occasionally thought-provoking memoir of growing up, getting over past mistakes, and extending oneself to others and the world at large.

- Publishers Weekly, 4/5/2010 | Link

Click below to watch the video!

http://www.ktnv.com/global/Category.asp?c=164911&autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=4622405&flvUri=&partnerclipid=

Pre-order my new memoir, Leave the Light On today. http://ning.it/7U3TVz

Young addict reveals her harrowing—and ultimately victorious—journey “post-recovery” 
Jennifer Storm writes with humility, wit, and passion a story that depicts the vulnerable state of early recovery from addiction. The reader quickly becomes drawn into her life and wants to know where her newly found insights and skills will take her. By embracing the tools offered in her twelve-step program and meetings, Jennifer navigates through many life challenges that confront young addicts in recovery—old and new friendships, relationships with parents and siblings, sexuality, intimate relationships, school, and career. Her story is captivating and inspiring.

Claudia Black, Ph.D.

Author, It Will Never Happen To Me 

Addiction? It’s even worse than you can imagine—especially for one “hooked” in her early teens. Jennifer Storm is that girl and Leave the Light On: A Memoir of Recovery and Self-Discovery is her story. (Central Recovery Press / Paperback $14.95/ April 2010). Ms. Storm’s first book, Blackout Girl (published by Hazelden), is the story of her fractured childhood as she descended into the dark solace that alcohol and other drugs provided. Leave the Light On continues her saga through recovery and the self-discovery that followed.

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It is an honor to have been chosen after a nationwide search as the Fall Cover Girl for We Magaziine for Women!

http://wemagazineforwomen.com/pdfs/fall2009.pdf