Host Heather Venegas interviews two prominent figures in the local recovery community and learns how loss brought them to where they are today – and how their loss has empowered them.
Meet Milli
Milli Militi-Jigamian lost her son Giancarlo to a fentanyl overdose in 2020. He had battled depression, anxiety, and addiction for years, but at 20 years old, it looked like he had turned the corner—clean for six months, in a treatment facility and looking forward to returning to his family. That’s when one small pill took his life. Milli and her family felt lost and helpless, but she decided to turn her grief into action, founding the Fentanyl United Crisis Coalition—a non-profit dedicated to helping families understand and fight fentanyl.
Meet Brad
Heather’s other guest is Brad Finegood. He lost his brother to an overdose two decades ago, but the pain of his loss is just as real today as it was then. Losing his brother to an overdose strengthened his resolve to help others dealing with substance use disorder. Brad now works for Public Health – Seattle & King County in its overdose prevention division.
Here are their stories of loss and hope.
Resources from the episode:
- Go to LinkedIn to connect with Milli and Brad.
- Learn more about Public Health – Seattle & King County’s overdose prevention and response program here.
- Support and learn more about the Fentanyl United Crisis Coalition here.
- Join Recovery Beyond for a hike to Kendall Katwalk honoring those who have lost their lives to an overdose. More information on this special International Overdose Awareness Day event can be found here.
- Connect with show host Heather Venegas on LinkedIn.
- Join King County Recovery Coalition on Sunday, August 27, at T-Mobile Park for Recovery Day! The pregame rally starts at 10:30 am, followed by a march to the ballpark, game, and resource fair on the 306-310 concourse. Specially priced tickets include a limited-edition Mariners-themed Recovery Day T-shirt. $3 from every ticket sold will benefit the Washington Recovery Alliance.
- Celebrate National Recovery Month in September with King County Behavioral Health and Recovery Division’s Recovery Art Showcase. Join in person on September 8 and October 13 at the Belltown Art Walk, or virtually through the Recovery Art Showcase website site at any time. Click here if you’d like to share your artwork or poetry for either showcase by August 11.
- Learn more about King County Recovery Coalition and the work they do here. To become a volunteer, a member, an advocate, or an event guest, visit their website.
- The King County Recovery Coalition is a regional coalition of the Washington Recovery Alliance (WRA). Learn more about the WRA and the work they do here. Want to find a way to get involved? Click here to become a member, volunteer, or donate to help change hearts and minds around mental health and substance use disorder in Washington state.
- If you are experiencing substance use disorder, problem gambling, and/or a mental health challenge, please visit the Washington Recovery Helpline for resources and a 24-hour helpline.
King County Recovery Conversations is a podcast on a mission to celebrate recovery and help break the stigma of addiction and mental health. In each episode, policy experts, program professionals, and those with lived experience join host Heather Venegas to share stories of hope, resilience, and healing in our community. Together, we’ll learn about the various pathways to recovery – and the services and support systems available to anyone impacted by addiction and mental health. Whether you’re someone seeking recovery, in recovery, a family member or friend, or a healthcare professional, this podcast is for you.
Connect with King County Recovery Coalition online, on Facebook (@KingCountyRecoveryCoalition), or on YouTube (@KingCountyRecoveryCoalition).
If you have feedback or show ideas, contact host Heather Venegas at heather@kcrecovery.org.
The Story Behind FUCC
In 2020, the deadly drug fentanyl changed the lives of the Jigamian family forever. After battling with depression and anxiety, Milli Militi’s and Harry Jigamian’s first-born son, Giancarlo Giuseppe Jigamian, was killed by fentanyl, at the young age of 20. Grief-stricken and devastated, Milli wanted to avenge her son’s death by creating an organization to fight against America’s fentanyl crisis – the Fentanyl United Crisis Coalition (FUCC).
FUCC was created to prevent death by fentanyl by empowering youth and adults to protect themselves against fentanyl overdose, developing new strategies focusing on fentanyl-specific treatment and recovery, supporting existing successful programs in prevention and harm reduction. So, give a FUCC, and help Milli and many others stop the madness and fight against fentanyl.
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Resources Are Available
If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties surrounding alcoholism, addiction, or mental illness, please reach out and ask for help. People everywhere can and want to help; you just have to know where to look. And continue to look until you find what works for you. Click here for a list of regional and national resources.
