Blackout Girl: Growing Up and Drying Out in America [Paperback]

Jennifer Storm (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 15, 2008

"Where the hell am I? How did I get here?"
 
Beginning at the age of 12, Jennifer Storm asked herself these questions many times after waking from alcohol-induced blackouts. During her teens and early twenties, Storm turned to alcohol to deal with the traumas in her life. In addition to alcohol, she also experimented with drugs, and eventually began using crack to deal with the deep black hole of sadness, loss, and unworthiness that she felt inside herself.
 
That is, until she awoke in a hospital psych ward and saw bandages on her wrists. "The doctor came in and said I was a very lucky girl to be alive," she explains, "and for the first time in my life, I believed it." She agreed to transfer to a rehabilitation center, though she wondered how life would be without alcohol and drugs. "Even as I asked myself this question, I quietly just knew I would never need them again. That inherent knowledge gave me a greater sense of peace than I had ever felt before. It was intoxicating in a whole new way."

Editorial Reviews

Review

A common story. A rare twist. When the American dream becomes her secret nightmare, Jennifer Storm begins the dark descent into addiction. Then she discovers that the same events that destroy her also create her. Written in a humble, raw voice, Blackout Girl helps us remember where we came from--and why.
--Melody Beattie,author of Codependent No More, The Grief Club, and other bestsellers. (Melody Beattie )

About the Author

Jennifer Storm is the Executive Director of the Victim/Witness Assistance Program in Harrisburg, PA. In 2002, Governor Edward G. Rendell appointed Ms. Storm as a commissioner to the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. Her media appearances include appearances on all major networks as a spokesperson for victims rights. She has been profiled or appeared in We,, Women, Central Penn Business Journal, Rolling Stone, TIME, and many other media. This is Ms. Storm's first book.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 280 pages
• Publisher: Hazelden (February 15, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592854680
• ISBN-13: 978-1592854684
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #114,479 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jennifer Storm was born and raised near Allentown, PA and attended Northampton High School. She graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Services and a Master's Degree in Organizational Management from The University of Phoenix.

In August 2002, Ms. Storm joined Victim Witness Assistance Program as the organization's second Executive Director. Before joining VWAP, Ms. Storm was the first full time director of the Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition, a non-profit coalition dedicated to securing and defending fully inclusive civil rights for LGBT people in Pennsylvania. During her tenure at Pennsylvania Rights Coalition, Ms. Storm worked diligently on obtaining inclusive hate crime legislation.

In 2002, the Pennsylvania legislature passed one of the most inclusive hate crime statues in the country. In 2002, Governor Edward G. Rendell appointed Ms. Storm as a commissioner to the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.

Her media appearances are vast including frequent appearances on all major networks including, ABC, FOX, NBC, NPR, CBS and PBS as the county spokesperson for victims rights. She had done over 100 media & radio interviews, both taped and live, in the past five years. She has appeared on local talk shows including The Harrisburg View and WITF's prime time public affairs show SMARTTALK.

In 2002, Ms Storm also publicly debated Oliver North live on his syndicated talk show Common Sense with Oliver North regarding gays in the boy scouts. She has been profiled and/or appeared in; CBS's 48 Hours Live to Tell, Dr. Drew Pinsky, We Magazine 2006, Women Magazine 2006, Central Penn Business Journal 2005, Rolling Stone Magazine 2002, TIME Magazine 2007 and many local & statewide newspapers.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, August 6, 2008

By 

TeensReadToo "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blackout Girl: Growing Up and Drying Out in America (Paperback)

Based on her real-life experiences, Jennifer Storm shares her difficult but triumphant story. Drinking, blackouts, drugs, addiction, and suicide attempts were all parts of her life in her teens and early twenties.

As you read about Jennifer's experiences, you will be amazed --- because the entire time you are reading her story, you know that she is writing her story, so she has to get better, right? And there are things so out-there that one would either think that there is no way this person would ever have a normal life or that the story must be fiction. But both of those thoughts would be incorrect.

What I loved about this book was that Jennifer was not afraid to share the ugly side of her addiction and substance abuse--it took her to some very daunting places that many would be too ashamed to share. I also was happy that hers was such a success story. When Jennifer decided that she was finished with that lifestyle, she was truly finished. (Of course, she received help to do so.)

Often times, our strengths are also our weaknesses....the fact that once she decides to quit using, she is able to do it will offer hope to many, because it can happen. However, for those who have tried to stop but have relapsed, I hope it doesn't send them the message that a relapse means they won't be able to get better the next time. Or the next. Or the next.

Regardless, Jennifer's story is one worth reading. My best wishes to her and her continued success.

Reviewed by: Dianna Geers

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Parents: Pay Attention!, April 9, 2008

By 

Michele Cozzens "www.michelecozzens.com" (Cloud 8) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Blackout Girl: Growing Up and Drying Out in America (Paperback)

This story is not unique. And that's unfortunate. It doesn't mean, however, that this isn't a valuable book and another reminder of the dangers American children face, particularly when they're left unsupervised. Alcohol and drug addiction, an equal-opportunity disease, remains a menace in this society, and I think the true purpose of this book is to alert parents of adolescents and teens to what's beyond their suburban fences and to PAY ATTENTION.

When an addict lives to tell the tale, it's always cause for celebration. Jennifer Storm writes with a simple, disarming style, wears it all on her sleeve, and bares little if any residual shame--just the ugly truth of her life as an addict. She illustrates the three distinct paths ahead for anyone drinking and drugging to that degree: jail, death, or recovery. And in spite of spending a good portion of her teen years experiencing blackout, she remembers and relates quite a bit about being raped (more than once) and her foray into intoxication to escape "the pain," from simply stealing sips of her mother's green liquor to becoming a suicidal crack addict.

There's room for these stories outside of AA meetings and in commercial fiction, with the hope that anyone who stumbles upon this book will find information, solace, and perhaps, steps toward recovery for themselves or someone they love. Storm also touches on why recovering addicts feel the need to share, when she relates a scene during the ride to rehab in "a druggie delivery car with a stoned crackhead" to her right, who acknowledges her in a way that shows he understands. It puts her at ease.

I recommend this book for parents of at risk children. If you know someone who fits this description, hand him or her a copy of Blackout Girl and suggest they read it cover to cover. Given the generally selfish and disengaged nature of these types of parents, you might have to read it out loud.

Michele Cozzens, Author of A Line Between Friends and The Things I Wish I'd Said.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring tale from tragic to happy..., March 5, 2009

By 

David W. Neagley "neagley" (Harrisburg, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Blackout Girl: Growing Up and Drying Out in America (Paperback)

** spoiler alert ** I was originally drawn to this book in result of hearing Jennifer being interviewed on NPR. As I read the book, I was captivated with the fact that Jennifer made many mistakes throughout her teenage/early adult life that could have made her just another statistic, but in the end she has drawn on these terrible circumstances and reconstructed a prosperous life out of it. I felt her pain as she relived details of the sexual assault and many blackouts due to drugs and alcohol. I cheered her on as she attempted to get on the right track. I celebrated when she finally made the realization that she had a choice and decided to pursue a life in sobriety. I commend her with sharing her life with me.

The way Jennifer structured the book was amazing. She begins with the end in a sense, "en medias res", showing how her current life connects with her past. I also find it humbling that she admits several times throughout the book that she knew her path was wrong at the time, but...more I was originally drawn to this book in result of hearing Jennifer being interviewed on NPR. As I read the book, I was captivated with the fact that Jennifer made many mistakes throughout her teenage/early adult life that could have made her just another statistic, but in the end she has drawn on these terrible circumstances and reconstructed a prosperous life out of it. I felt her pain as she relived details of the sexual assault and many blackouts due to drugs and alcohol. I cheered her on as she attempted to get on the right track. I celebrated when she finally made the realization that she had a choice and decided to pursue a life in sobriety. I commend her with sharing her life with me.

The way Jennifer structured the book was amazing. She begins with the end in a sense, "en medias res", showing how her current life connects with her past. I also find it humbling that she admits several times throughout the book that she knew her path was wrong at the time, but wasn't sure how to fix it. She write with an authentic prose that's very vivid--painting a picture of her life revisited.

I was also very fascinated when she wrote about her mother's death. I am amazed at how sometimes tragedy can become a blessing. I think in some ways her mother's death pulled her family closer and was a way for her to start toward realizing the severe addictions she faced. I also relate with many of the struggles she has had with connected with her mother.

I also found her quest to define her sexual identity amazing. I know that not everyone's time to figure these things out is the same, and I am amazed at her particular journey.

Her entire book seems to balance her goal of telling her story to others in hopes of preventing their pains by learning from her mistakes while using the book as a final therapy to work through her mistakes through pen. I liked the book so much that she's going to come to give a talk at my college this March to kick of Domestic Violence Awareness Month! Read this book