CATHARSIS –
Feb. 16, 2022 – Her parents, Gary and Judy Stoefen, have written a book detailing her successes and challenges in hopes that it will steer others from a similar path.
The couple, who met while growing up in La Jolla and now live in Rancho Bernardo, will be signing the book, “Lisa’s Light: A Story of Triumph and Tragedy Over Drug Addiction,” at Warwick’s bookstore at 7812 Girard Ave. in La Jolla at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 20.
The book, published in 2020, carries the message that “no one is invincible to addiction,” Gary said. Not even Lisa, who was “just adorable, creative, athletic and intelligent.” Lisa became addicted to alcohol but also picked up cigarettes and drugs. Her problems increased and her parents put her in outpatient addiction programs. When she was 17, they enrolled her in an inpatient program in Louisiana, “away from everybody,” Judy said.
Lisa came home sober at 18 and stayed that way until she was 21. But social circumstances triggered her to begin drinking again and using drugs.
