The Recovery Bill of Rights
is a statement of the principle that all Americans have a right to recover from addiction to alcohol and other drugs. Learn more…
Remembering Lisa Mojer-Torres
Lisa Mojer-Torres passed away on April 5, 2011 after a prolonged struggle with ovarian cancer. We salute her tireless, passionate, committed advocacy for recovery. She was a tenacious fighter for the rights of individuals and gave hope to many who felt helpless while inspiring others to stand up for their rights. Her inquiring and challenging mind offered new insights and by example, she encouraged us to stand up and speak out on behalf of all pathways to recovery, including the use of medications. Faces & Voices of Recovery honors her service as its first board chair.
Lisa was instrumental in the founding of Faces & Voices of Recovery and in her service personified its core principles of recognizing all pathways to recovery. Her leadership and presence at our helm contributed to a significant shift in understanding about recovery and discrimination.
She made herself available to so many people in so many different ways – from people in crisis to leaders of recovery community organizations to policymakers and others. As with so many advocates, Lisa fit her many contributions into an already busy life – giving of her time and talent while juggling her life and family. She brought her story of recovery to many diverse communities and tailored her communications to fit each audience – be it service providers, researchers, policymakers, family members or people seeking or in long-term recovery. Her belief in the dignity of each individual and the hope that recovery offers infused every single moment of her life.
Lisa received the Richard Lane/Robert Holden Patient Advocacy award in 2010, presented by the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence. Faces & Voices was pleased to nominate Lisa for this prestigious award and here are excerpts from the process, including support from board member Carol McDaid and recovery historian Bill White. Learn more…
Maine's First Annual Lisa Mojer-Torres Recovery Advocacy Award
Walter Ginter presenting Lisa AATOD’s Richard Lane/Robert Holden Patient Advocacy award
Through her words, deeds and example, she showed that medication assisted therapy was essential for some and no less a pathway to Recovery... I can only hope that her example inspires others to bring their energy, stories and advocacy into the public forum.
-H.
I first met Lisa when she was on an Institute of Medicine Committee on the Regulation of Methadone Treatment, back in 1993. Over the years, Lisa became a close, trusted friend and colleague. In addition to the major contributions Lisa made to this field and the staunch and heartfelt advocacy she championed with consummate skill, Lisa had such an open and loving heart that she generously shared with her friends and family. We have laughed and cried together, shared our fears, celebrated our successes, and just enjoyed ourselves. When pressures of life kept us apart for long periods, we could pick up where we started without missing a beat. Lisa was so happy with Rolando and Matthew and Liam—they were everything to her. There’s a saying that “fine friends are few.” I will always think of Lisa in that context and hold her in my heart as one of the few who enhanced my life and inspired me with her genuine warmth, keen intelligence, commitment to human dignity, and generosity of spirit. I will so miss her.
-Constance M. Pechura, Ph.D
I first heard Lisa speak at a conference in Chicago years ago and her words changed my thinking in so many ways. She clearly redefined recovery for me as including the long-term, sometimes life-long, assistance of medication. Being new to the recovery movement at the time, this was new and where I come from controversial, information for me but it made perfect sense. I never had the opportunity to work with Lisa but I always remembered her name and remembered Lisa – as one of the most courageous, outspoken advocates in the movement.
-Tom McHale
Lisa was a compassionate educator and leader for us for many years in the SAMHSA RCSP program. Her guidance, knowledge, and tireless efforts in support of the RCSP program are eternally appreciated. Her work will last through-out the RCSP program and we were honored by her presence in teaching and helping us truly understand all pathways to recovery.
- Marsha Baker, SAMHSA
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