This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

TV's Meredith Baxter Speaks About Abuse and Addiction

Star at premiere of "A Safe Place"—a one-act play focusing on domestic abuse — visited the St. Louis area to benefit COMTREA, a Jefferson County based non-profit.

Many of us loved television's Family Ties mom Meredith Baxter, with Michael J. Fox. Others of a certain age have been in love with Baxter since Bridget Loves Bernie in the 1970s.

Either way, Baxter told Patch Tuesday that most of her career was just showing up, learning lines and keeping the secret of what was going on in her own home.

It was in her personal life that Baxter learned about herself. After ten years of sobriety, she finally did what the 12-Step program suggested and began therapy. She hopes that now people will realize that they have choices and can get help.

Find out what's happening in Arnoldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Baxter was in St. Louis on behalf of COMTREA, Community Treatment, Inc., a nonprofit that provides programs and services for mental health, domestic abuse and substance and rehabilitation treatment for Jefferson and St. Louis Counties. She appeared Tuesday evening, December 6, at Sunset Hills’ The Viking for the Premiere of A Safe Place, a one-act domestic abuse-focused play by St. Louisan Carol Kline. 

Baxter’s St. Louis flight was delayed but she took time to talk candidly over a cup of tea before the performance to Patch and KSDK Channel 5.

Find out what's happening in Arnoldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In a small banquet room at The Viking conference center in Sunset Hills, Baxter said it was through her 12-Step Program for alcoholism that gave her the courage to write her book, Untied—A Memoir of Family, Fame, and Floundering.

“We need to break the chain,” Baxter said about abuse and addiction. It is important to treat everything she said—alcoholism and abuse go hand-in-hand.

Baxter was also in TV's Family. Several mini-series, sitcoms, and movies later she is now an accomplished author. In 2009 she came out as a lesbian in an interview with Matt Lauer.

“They had to tell (Lauer) in advance,” Baxter said. “They didn’t want him falling off his chair. I thought everyone ‘came out’ with a spread in People magazine and an interview on The Today Show."

When thanked by Dr. Stephen Huss, President and CEO of COMTREA, she in turn applauded COMTREA for spreading the word and offered to continue doing as much as she can to provide hope for others.

Sunset Hills based-Kathryn Ellis and COMTREA Board Member was the Event Coordinator.

COMTREA has programs in mental health, sustance abuse, family and children’s counselling in the schools and locations in Arnold, Festus, and High Ridge, as well as as in DeSoto, Sullivan, Hillsboro and Farmington. Resources are available for those who may need them:  636 931-2700 or visit www.comtrea.org

“A Journey from Rags to Riches” a fashion show to benefit COMTREA will be held at The Viking, 10709 Watson Road in Sunset Hills, on April 22, 2012 from 12:30 to 4:30 pm.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Arnold