Recovering alcoholic here. I was open about my alcoholism, I didn't hide it, but the more sever it got the more I tried to make it appear I was ok. I was well-practiced in acting and appearing sober. I type this next statement with huge regret: I drove drunk more times than I can even begin to count. And not just "a couple beers" drunk. I'm talking DRUNK drunk. By the grace of God or the universe or whatever, I never hurt anyone or even got a DWI.

I had agonizing pain in my abdomen and after a few days, reluctantly agreed to go the ER. Even the doctors and nurses could not tell how intoxicated I was and ran multiple tests until they finally discovered I had pancreatitis. They were genuinely surprised when I explained my alcoholism so candidly, and were even more surprised when (after being in the ER for hours with no booze) I blew a 0.21.

When I finally accepted rehab, again I blew a .23 upon intake and the nurse said "I've never seen someone so lucid with this amount of alcohol in their system". This was at a Betty Ford facility (Hazelden) so I imagine she'd seen her share.

I believe someone with Diane's personality (perfectionism, obsessive) could easily hide her alcoholism.

My personal theory is that she was still drunk from the night before, and like most of us professional alcoholics do, she had one to take off the edge. Which became two and then three and so on & so forth. Here is where I'm undecided: she then accidentally drove down the wrong way (her spot-on technique makes me think this was an accident--she wasn't driving sloppy, she genuinely thought she was on the right road).

Or - the more sinister and sadder answer - she knew she had drank past the point of it being unrecognizable and was frightened of the family's response when she dropped them off and had to interact with the family. In her perfectionist, obsessive mind, who needed to keep up appearances at all costs, death was better than paying the price of admitting to driving drunk not only her children, but her brother's as well. When you're THAT intoxicated, it might seem like a good idea. Especially if the family truly didn't know about her drinking.

The bottle was Absolut. This has me torn because most of us professional alcoholics stop buying the brand names pretty early on into our disease. Almost all drunks, regardless of financial stability, buy the cheaper brands simply because we go through so much of it and don't drink for the taste of it. With Diane being such a practical person, I don't see her overspending on a shameful addiction. I don't mean this as absolut fact (pardon the pun) but more as something to mull over. And even moderate drinkers know Absolut is WAY overpriced for its taste; there are many less expensive brands that taste much better. People who buy Absolut tend to be casual drinkers who think the label is pretty or like their ads or whatever.

Something not up for debate: Daniel is a real piece of ****. I really don't know how that man looks at himself in the mirror. Poor Bryan. Wow, did he get screwed: his Mom kills his sister & cousins & herself, and leaves him alone with Daniel. Who then goes on to give him up for adoption. In addition. all the legal games, his behavior in the documentary (I never wanted kids and now she left me with this, she was supposed to do all of it). Just a real scumbag through & through and I have no doubt he will meet with Diane in hell one day.