The tragedy of the mother who drove the wrong way on the Taconic Parkway in New York has struck a nerve for many people.  This everyday, suburban mom had the equivalent of ten shots of alcohol in her system and had levels of THC that indicated she had smoked a joint within an hour of the crash.

While we may never know why she did what she did, or how so many people missed the signs of a woman with obvious problems, we do know this: She was drunk and high. Toxicology reports for drugs as basic as these just don't lie.

H.L. Mencken was famous for liking his drink but also for knowing the parameters.  Never drink during the daytime.  Never drink alone.  And don't drink when there is work to be done.  Diane Schuler did all three and cost eight people their lives. 

There is no right time to bend the rules when childrearing is the day job.  One woman's chardonnay may be another woman's vodka.  The drink of choice doesn't really matter. 

What does matter is that women do not metabolize alcohol the way that men do.  An enzyme, alcohol dehydrogenase, that is found in the stomach and starts degrading alcohol, is found at much lower levels as men.  That means that a 130 pound man may be able to out drink a 150 pound woman.  It has nothing to do with size.  It has everything to do with biology. 

Take this tragic story to heart.  There is no wiggle room here.  Alcohol is a drug. Have an honest conversation with yoursself about how much, when and with whom you drink.  Look yourself in the mirror and get help if you need to.....before you kill someone.