LOVELL — The Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library in Lovell is hosting Lisa Hillman, author of “Secret No More: A True Story of Hope for Parents with an Addicted Child” at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 20.

An outsider might envy the Hillman family for their seemingly perfect lives. Lisa ran multi-million dollar campaigns for one of Maryland’s leading hospitals. Her husband, Richard, mayor of Annapolis from 1981-1985, enjoyed a fulfilling career in government and law. Together they raised a happily married daughter, all while living in a historic home steps away from the Maryland State House.

In reality the Hillmans’ lives were far from perfect. For years Lisa and Dick hid behind a shameful secret: their son Jacob was an opioid addict.

“The shame of my son’s actions kept me isolated,” Lisa writes. “At the time, I was terrified that anyone, even my closest friends, would find out that Jacob was using. What would that say about me? What kind of mother was I if my son was a drug addict?”

“Secret No More” is a powerful, vulnerable memoir about overcoming the shame that comes with having an addicted loved one.

In Maine alone the death toll from drug overdose reached 376 in 2016, 39 percent higher than in 2015. More than one victim per day, and it shows no signs of stopping. The only way we can solve this crisis, as a community, is to talk about it openly and compassionately.

Lisa Hillman will give a brief presentation about her book, followed by a Q&A, as well as sign books available for purchase at the Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library. 

Copy the Story Link

Comments are not available on this story.