Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/37509
“It was probably She was far from home, literally, and even farther from the safe suburban existence where alcoholism was more associated with the homeless men hanging around the Capitol Square. “You wonder, ‘How did I let myself get to this point?’” she admits. By her early 40s, Linda had stitched to- gether all the pieces of a full life: marriage, kids, career and a picture-perfect home. But when it began to unravel, a problem with alcohol quietly grew under the radar. Casual drinks with friends and nightly glasses of wine turned into a crutch. “I was probably already drinking too much because I was pretty miserable in my marriage, but when I fi led for divorce, it just got bad,” she recalls. Soon, one or two drinks weren’t enough; she couldn’t stop herself from reaching for more. Eventually she would regularly 56 BRAVA Magazine July 2011 terrifying moment drink until she blacked out. On the day Linda realized the problem had spiraled out of control, she started sipping wine at noon. Th e estimated number of glasses she downed that day? Between 15 and 20. Her story is hardly unique. Th ough it’s tricky to pinpoint the precise number of women struggling with alcoholism—a progressive disease generally marked by the inability to stop oneself from consum- ing alcohol—indicators of overall use show that plenty of local women are putting themselves at risk. Across age groups and in various stud- ies, Wisconsin has been crowned the No. 1 state for heavy drinkers for over a decade. In the most recent National Women’s Law Center’s health report card, Wisconsin women topped the list out of all 50 states and the District of Columbia for the num- ber of women who admit to binge drinking the most of my life,” Linda* says, describing the day that she—a successful professional and mother of two—walked haltingly through the doors of a rehab clinic to seek treatment for an addiction to alcohol. (having fi ve or more drinks in one sitting) at least once a month. Th e medical community knows the con- sequences: Studies show that women who are chronic abusers have a higher chance of liver disease, heart damage and brain damage than men. So when nationwide studies call our state the worst, and when science shows the stark consequences— why does the issue continue to get the si- lent treatment? As three area advocates explain, it’s the stigma that surrounds substance abuse in a culture that loves the sound of clinking glasses. Today they’re coming together to of- fer a singular message: We need to look at the issue of substance abuse in a new way that erases blame, increases understand- ing and leans on partnerships to advance the cause.