Why is this subject, “Incurable Hope,” important in the world?
The world simply can’t ignore the statistics and the direct impact that the issues of addiction and mental health are having on families, employers, law enforcement, and medical personnel.
“Globally, 1.5% of the disease burden results from alcohol and illicit drug addiction; in some countries, it’s over 5%. This contributes to 11.8 million deaths each year”.
https://ourworldindata.org/drug-use#disease-burden-from-substance-use-disorders
“In the United States alone, nearly half of Americans have a family member or close friend who’s been addicted to drugs.”
“In 2021, 98,268 people died from preventable drug overdoses – an increase of 781% since 1999. According to the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 40.3 million Americans, aged 12 or older, had a substance use disorder (SUD) in the past year.”
(https://www.cdc.gov/dotw/substance-use-disorders/index.html)
This subject is so important because these issues have become global burdens. People are simply unable to avoid the issues of mental health and substance use because this affects nearly 1 out of every 2 families just in the US.
What is the pressing issue right, and how are you addressing it?
The pressing issue is the post-pandemic dramatic increase in mental health and substance use disorders along with the continued criminalization of mental illness. This is shown by the dramatic rise in deaths due to overdoses, as previously stated, however, the improvement in crisis intervention and de-escalation are just as critical when addressing these issues. In my son’s case, he was inadvertently taken to jail and put into solitary confinement because they were unable to effectively use crisis intervention, and ultimately, that is where they were able to house him, not because that is where he should have been taken. I am personally addressing these issues by speaking with law enforcement and medical personnel about mental health, substance use disorder, crisis intervention, and de-escalation to improve outcomes for all individuals involved in a crisis situation. I don’t want the outcome our family faced to be experienced by any other family.
Lisa Gennosa Biography
What is your background in this subject?
On the subject of substance use disorder and mental health, my background comes from three main sources. As a family physician assistant, my education and direct patient care have given me an extensive treasure trove of lessons that I have been able to share. As the mother of an adult son with an addiction disorder, I spent 15 years of intensive research into the disease of addiction and combined mental health issues. My son, with his innate emotional and psychological intelligence, has provided me with years of conceptual understanding. And lastly, as the daughter of a liquor and narcotics agent, my mother has helped me to understand the expectations and challenges for police officers. For what it’s worth, my experiences are filtered through these lenses.
What is something that most people don’t know about you?
They may find it rather funny that I was the lead singer in a local band. I love to sing, with an affinity for soulful, bluesy jazz like Etta James and Billie Holiday, but I rarely get the opportunity other than in the car or shower.
What are your passions outside of your career?
I have a passion for amateur photography and really enjoy the editing process to enhance a single captured moment. I am passionate about volunteering for anything that promotes positive change for underserved individuals. I currently volunteer as a board member with the United Way and the NCAPA Health Committee, as well as with incarcerated individuals in a heroin recovery program. The inmates may think they are the ones benefiting from my time with them, but the truth is, I am the one who gains so much by seeing them succeed. Lastly, I am just crazy over my two dogs, who bring me so much joy each and every day. They are pure happiness wearing two dog suits.
Are there any social causes that you believe in and support?
I am an advocate for recovery reform for incarcerated individuals and for law enforcement education reform. In addition to caring for my patients, I am working in both areas to be the change I wish to see in the world.
What is next for you?
I want to get out there and educate medical and law enforcement professionals as well as students. By doing continuing medical and legal education speaker conferences, I hope to provide expanded mental health and substance use disorder knowledge. I want to use my and my son’s story as an introduction for improved outcomes for all individuals involved in a crisis or mental health situation.
I am currently reaching out legislatively to help expand universal healthcare coverage after substance rehabilitation and to provide better discharge planning after rehab and incarceration.
I am also considering writing another book. I want to share the stories of those that are unable to share it for themselves.
Incurable Hope
Tell me about your book.
Incurable Hope: A Memoir and Survival Guide for Coping with a Loved One’s Addiction is a memoir from a mother and healthcare professional’s perspective to project an inspiring, though the tortuous, journey through and out of her only child’s agony of having the disease of addiction and overcoming the trauma he endured. This book examines how substance use disorder, mental health, and trauma can collide with the legal and medical systems, but more importantly, it is a survival guide, a resource guide, and a desperately needed tour guide through the labyrinth of addiction.
This book takes a tour through our son’s perceived rock bottom—a classic word used by addicted individuals and their loved ones to describe the lowest point that sometimes proves to be the catalyst for sobriety—and tries to make sense of the chaos that occurred. However, this story later reveals that the bottom is only the beginning of a whirlwind of pain and trauma for our son. I travel back through the overlooked childhood and young adult experiences as well as lessons learned. At various points in the story, I intertwine the ethical failings of the medical and legal establishments along with ways to help improve outcomes for all individuals involved, the understanding of the disease of addiction, the resources available to help those with substance use disorder and the understanding of trauma and mental health as they can sometimes relate to individuals with addiction. As the story ends, I conclude with how addiction affects the pillars of our lives, such as family, friends, and faith. I go on to address the many lessons I have learned, my relationship with my son, and finding personal peace in the end.
The solution this book is aimed for is stated best by Brene Brown, “One day you will tell your story of how you overcame what you went through, and it will be someone else’s survival guide.”
The words that came to be a book were originally nothing more than a therapeutic purge. However, through the close relationship with my son and the many patients, inmates, and professionals that collectively provided a breadth of perspective, I recognized the potential to help others struggling with the epidemic of addiction. Even though I am a well-seasoned Physician Assistant, who is also the daughter of a liquor and narcotics agent and the wife of a loving Family Physician, this story recalibrated everything our family thought we knew.
Where can people buy the book?
You can find my book Incurable Hope: A Memoir and Survival Guide for Coping with a Loved One’s Addiction anywhere books are sold! The Audible version will be out in June, along with expanded distribution at that time! Right now, you can quickly access it through Amazon. Here are a few additional links for your convenience:
Scan here to learn more about Incurable Hope, A Memoir and
Survival Guide for Coping with a Loved One’s Addiction
By Lisa Gennosa