Social Impact Authors: Why & How Andrew Drasen of A Vision of Hope Media Is Helping To Change Our World
My goal with the memoir is to foster a deeper understanding of what an addict and the incarcerated go through. By developing a better understanding, we can create more effective systems.
As a part of my series about “authors who are making an important social impact”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Andrew Drasen. Andrew Drasen is an author, speaker, curriculum developer, advocate, and founder of A Vision of Hope Media. His work is rooted in his lived experience with addiction, incarceration, and loss, and he advocates for sensible prison and drug reform. Drasen has also developed ReturnPath, a curriculum designed to help individuals heal, discover identity, and live intentionally.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive into the main focus of our interview, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood backstory?
I grew up in a middle-class household in the Midwest. I have a half-sister who is eight years older than I, with whom I was close growing up. I was always intelligent, but thought little of myself. I felt ashamed that I was overweight and suffered self-image issues, on top of some bullying. I tried to make up for my lack of self-worth by getting perfect grades, being amicable, and not making any waves. I discovered alcohol and marijuana at age 12, which immediately made me not feel so self-conscious and filled with doubt. This began my nearly two-decade battle with drugs. If you want the full backstory, make sure to check out the memoir, A Vision of Hope: A Story of Redemption and Purpose.
When you were younger, was there a book that you read that inspired you to take action or changed your life? Can you share a story about that?
Not really. I discovered my passion for reading while incarcerated. When I had a choice, my favorite authors were Michael Crichton and Norman Mailer. I loved how Michael Crichton would mix fact with fiction to teach you about a subject while entertaining you. His personality would shine through in his writing. And Harlot’s Ghost by Norman Mailer is probably my favorite book I’ve ever read. It’s long, but I felt like the way it painted a picture and gave you the whole story of the spy was captivating.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
Before I wrote the books, I used to write and perform music. I remember the very first rap I wrote while in jail as a teenager. Looking back at it, I shake my head at the quality, but we all start somewhere. After performing it, someone tried to steal it. Another inmate saw him, called him out, and told him to “give the man his rhymes back.” The guy didn’t even make music himself, which is the ironic part. It didn’t mean much to me at the time since I was just passing time, but, looking back, I learned the lesson of making sure to protect yourself and your work. There are people driven by greed everywhere, and you have to take steps to protect yourself from others who would attempt to benefit from your work.
Can you describe how you aim to make a significant social impact with your book?
My goal with the memoir is to foster a deeper understanding of what an addict and the incarcerated go through. By developing a better understanding, we can create more effective systems. My goal on a personal level is for people to see that no matter how dark life gets, light can be found, so long as we keep our eyes open to it. On a societal level, I call out several problems I see within our systems and give actionable solutions we could implement. My goal is to begin a broader conversation around our systems and how we implement them. I believe we can make them more effective by helping people stand on their own rather than overlooking the most vulnerable in our society.
Can you share with us the most interesting story that you shared in your book?
There are so many. It’s an account of a wild life. I could say when the cops let me flush my heroin in the prologue. Or when I was set up by the dirty informant. Or when I was arrested for the first time at Case High School. I could talk about being in drug court, using someone else’s urine to get past probation and drug court drug tests. I could talk about overdoses, relapses, prison time, and heartbreak. You’ll just have to check out the book!
What was the “aha moment” or series of events that made you decide to bring your message to the greater world? Can you share a story about that?
It was a series of moments. I’d been a talented writer since I was a child. First with poetry, then with music. I’d dabbled with short stories briefly for a spell, also. Along the way, I’d been encouraged to write a book by at least two social workers I’d told my story to. Even the events leading up to my last incarceration (when I wrote the book), the cops told me I should share my story, that I could help people.
I knew I had 6–8 months to do, and my mother and I talked about co-writing a book in the past; her cover and perspective on one side, flip it over, and it’s my perspective of the same events. That didn’t come to be, but I knew I had the time, and I decided to write the book. I set a goal to finish it before release, and finished it 5 minutes before getting out.
Then, I was released, and life happened. I got together with my fiancé Caroline, and we built a life. I sold cars for 4 years, bought the condo, started a solar sales company, and lived life.
I’d lost half of the book. It was handwritten, having been written in jail and prison, and I had it in two folders. One folder contained the chapters, and the second folder had the journal entries and what would become A Vision of Hope: Reflections. I lost the folder with the journal entries and Reflections.
At this time, I’d already had a messy exit from solar. I knew the folder had to be around somewhere. I looked at my dad’s house, and, lo and behold, it was there. I took this as a sign that I was meant to share this story. It would have been impossible to replicate what I’d written in that folder.
While writing the book, I’d share bits and pieces of the writing with people along the way. The response I got was very encouraging. From inmates to counselors in the treatment program, to prison staff. They all spoke highly of my writing. I knew it could make an impact.
Then, in July 2025, Caroline committed suicide during a mental health crisis. This event rocked me. Ultimately, it strengthened my resolve to help reach people before the cliff’s edge. There is no better way to honor her than by helping others in the struggle, and to help our systems become more effective at providing true help.
Without sharing specific names, can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted or helped by your cause?
On 1/7/26, I am going to speak with at-risk youth as part of a Milwaukee organization to share my story. I’ve been accepted to give a virtual oral presentation at the Global Addiction, Behavioral Health, and Psychiatry conference in October. The ReturnPath curriculum is currently being reviewed by treatment and reentry programs, and the books are being very highly received by substance abuse counselors, people in recovery, general readers, and trade outlets. The first step was getting the books into the world. Now, it’s about building awareness so they can make the impact I know they will have.
Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do to help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?
Yes! I devote multiple pages within the book to problems with our political system, policing system, criminal justice system, and treatment systems, and give steps to course correct. It’s being praised for not just pointing out problems but identifying potential solutions. I will leave politicians out of this answer. My views will be known after reading the title.
For community and society, we need to care and have empathy and compassion for our fellow man. We need to realize that we do have power, and our words and actions matter. We need to check our sources and use discernment when receiving information. I will summarize this with one example.
In an adjacent neighborhood to mine, a religious nonprofit is building a 53,000 sq ft 120-bed inpatient drug treatment center. Because it is a religious-based nonprofit, they do not need board or voter approval for the purchase. It’s happening.
There was a petition signed by 1,400 residents against the treatment center. The comments I saw bordered on hateful (if they can’t get clean then lock them up, just let them die if they don’t have the willpower to stop), to misinformed (people will leave and wander off and become homeless in our city, crime will increase, dealers will drive by soliciting business), to political (no need for examples here).
First, addiction touches most families in some way, shape, or form. To lack empathy for those struggling is saying that because this individual has this particular struggle, they are less than other people. People who talk about willpower or locking up addicts don’t understand addiction at all.
There are several well-cited studies that show that increased treatment options in an area correlates to a reduction in violent and property crime in the area. These arguments were fear-based thinking and still a form of prejudice against those suffering from addiction. This particular center is a 6-month inpatient facility with a 4-week vetting period before admittance.
I gave this example because it shows my points. We need to care about the plight of our fellow man, exercise discernment, educate ourselves on the issues that matter, and choose the words we speak wisely.
How do you define “Leadership”? Can you explain what you mean or give an example?
To me, true leadership is someone who acts decisively in truth and inspires others to do the same.
Leadership can be broken down more simply into one who inspires others to take action. But I feel there is good and bad leadership. The false prophets, those who inspire hate and division and fear, and those who are self-motivated, are examples of bad leadership.
And then there’s true leadership. Where someone is driven by a higher purpose, a calling that is bigger than themselves. This person leads through action rather than words. These are the people who alter history.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.
Let’s get to work
I had no idea how big an undertaking it was to put out a book. I had to handwrite the book, so the first step was typing it. Huge process. Then editing. Eight times. Myself. And formatting. There are book wraps. Barcodes, ISBNs, and LCCNs. Copyright and trademark protection. There’s the website. SEO. There are trade reviews. Reader reviews. Accounts to create. Profiles to set up. Then, after the book releases, there’s building awareness, which is an entire category of its own. It’s not just writing a book and throwing it on Amazon. Not if you want wide adoption.
Life does not stop
Caroline took her life while I was at the beginning of my first editing pass. There were weeks when I didn’t get much done, lost in my grief. I thought she would be the first one to read the book. I sent it to her the night prior. I cannot foresee how things would have played out had they gone differently. All I can do is learn from what happens and choose how it shapes me.
Everyone isn’t your audience
I remember when I got my first (and only) 2-star review on NetGalley and Goodreads. I had to remind myself that with the life that I’ve lived and the strong (and somewhat unconventional) policy suggestions I make in the book, there is bound to be some pushback. Overall, the reviews are so incredibly positive, and the memoir is landing as I had intended with most people. That is better than okay. You can’t win everyone’s approval, and to try is a fool’s errand.
Consistency leads to success
Laying it all out on the pages was only the beginning. I didn’t understand I would be investing tens of thousands of dollars into promotion and building awareness, or that it’s going to be a process. I thought if I sold under 5,000 copies in month 1, that was a failure. I completely failed to account for the fact that I am an unknown memoir author. While I have a compelling story and polished product, that is only the beginning. Luckily, having spent 6 years in sales prepared me for this portion, as I am now calling every independent bookstore in America to stock the title. I’ve worked through 4 states so far and have secured several indie bookstore purchases. I’m also contacting library consortia for adoption. I am now in full outreach mode. Instead of being disappointed with my first month’s sales, I used it as added motivation to make sure the story is heard.
Think big
When I first started, I only intended on writing my story as honestly as I could. Reflections was originally going to be part of the memoir, but after typing it, I realized it would be far too long. Thus, Reflections was born. Then I began thinking about my intent with the book. For people to use it as a mirror to inspire hope for change in their own circumstances, whether big or small. I thought about all the treatments I’d been through. So, as I was editing, I decided to create the workbook. That, in turn, spawned the curriculum, which grew into its own system. All of this from wanting to write my story and tell my truth.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
I will quote myself. “A decision without action is nothing more than a thought.”
Throughout my life, I would have these pipe dreams, these grand plans I would map out, but never act on. I can decide to do something, but until I take action on that decision, nothing is tangible, and I haven’t actually done anything. I just thought about doing something.
I feel like writing the memoir was the first decision I made that I followed through on. It took effort, dedication, consistency, and showing up every day, for four to eight hours a day, to write. During chow times, lockdowns, dayroom hours, in between groups, and late night.
Shortly after finding out I would be behind bars for several months, I decided to write the book. Then I took action, turning that thought, that decision, into reality.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂
Joe Rogan. I think we could have an incredible conversation. I like that he isn’t afraid to speak his mind, or to change his mind after receiving new information or watching events as they unfold. I know he has experience with psychedelics, and my experiences have been some of the most impactful of my life. I have a story I’d like to talk to him about, which is the basis for my next book. I think that would be a great conversation.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
My website is https://avisionofhopebook.com The books are available wherever books are sold (call your local library and bookstore to request the title), and you can search Andrew Drasen or A Vision of Hope Media on socials.
This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success on your great work!
Social Impact Authors: Why & How Andrew Drasen of A Vision of Hope Media Is Helping To Change Our… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.