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Heidi A. Swan

Local, State and Federal Advocate; Cannabis-Induced Psychosis and Homelessnes Prevention Expert

As a passionate advocate about the mental health impacts of marijuana, Heidi's been on Dr. Phil, Fox.com and NBC-LA. A California resident, she advocates for local control and warning labels. Federally, she insists the industry and our elected leaders publicly disclose the known risks THC pose to brain health.

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Bio

Heidi Anderson-Swan is the co-author of the only fictional story illustrating the negative mental health impacts of youth marijuana use. Entitled A Night In Jail, the story is inspired by her brother’s true life as a homeless drug addict with schizophrenia who went to jail eighteen times. Heidi and her brother, who is now sober, wrote the book together and adapted it into a play and a short film.

Recently, Heidi spoke on Dr. Phil's episode, Is America Too High on Mariijuana? She was interviewed by Fox.com and NBCLA, Epoch Times's California Insider and We the People Radio about her work. Along with a group of advocates from MomsStrong.org, and led by Long-time Schizophrenia Researcher, Dr. Christine Miller, Heidi met with the Drug Advisors for then-Senator Kamala Harris and Senator Dianne Feinstein. She has worked as a consultant with Los Angeles Defense Attorney, Bob Schwartz.

As a speaker, Heidi taught Continuing Education for Esquire CLE and the Professional Fiduciary Association of California. She will be presenting for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) California 2023 Conference. Other presentations: Stanford REACH's Teaching Cannabis Awareness and Prevention Virtual Conference, Johnny’s Ambassadors, MATFORCE (Arizona), Alcoholics and Substance Providers of New York State, Community Coalitions of Virginia, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in Long Beach and Solano County, Los Padrinos (formerly a juvenile detention facility), County of Los Angeles Public Health Youth Advisory Committee and many other organizations.

Heidi volunteered with SB 1097, a bill to put warning labels on THC products in California. The bill was pulled due to pressure from the industry. She was honored to be appointed to the Hermosa Beach Cannabis Advisory Group and then she helped lead the very successful effort to oppose Hermosa Beach's Measure M (to overturn the ban on pot shops).

Heidi works closely with Every Brain Matters and Parent Action Network on advocacy. She is on the Advisory Committee of Johnny's Ambassadors.

A former actress, Heidi is thrilled to have been the voice of Jill Valentine in the hit video game, Resident Evil (2002).

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Keynotes

Featured Keynote

"Storytelling In Prevention Education".

Heidi will discuss how her brother's teen marijuana use began his descent into addiction, schizophrenia, homelessness and repeated incarceration. She will then describe how she and her brother (now sober & treated) used his experiences as inspiration for their fictional novella, staged reading and short film. Their goal is to use storytelling as a means to teach teens about the association between teen marijuana use and psychosis and schizophrenia. The 20 min short film, which was directed by a sixteen year old, will be shown.

Topics

Glazov Gang Interview- Marijuana, Psychosis and Mental Illness

Here's Why Cartels Rush to California and Grow Marijuana

The Dark Side of California's Legalization of Marijuana | Heidi Swan

Speaking on Dr. Phil

Fox.com Comments to Chuck Schumer about mental health risks of marijuana

75 sec Highlight Video from NAMI Solano County Presentation

Presentation for Community Coalitions of Virginia

NBC-LA Interview about A NIGHT IN JAIL

Cannabis-induced psychosis: Amid push for legalization, sister says brother 'was lost to us for a decade'

Fox.com interviewed me about legalization. I asked why Chuck Schumer isn't being honest about the studies showing the harms of marijuana. I voted for it in California. Now I see the consequences and speak out about them.

Marijuana's Potency Linked to Psychosis

From Herald.Net: My letter to the editor about how there should be a cap on THC potency. I describe how low potency THC gave me a psychotic experience. Higher potency THC has greater risks for negative mental health effects.

THC Warning Lables Where Marijuana is Legalized Can Help Curb the Homeless Crisis

Our elected leaders must protect the public by adding mental health risks to warning labels on THC products. If young people think marijuana is harmless, then more will use it. If more young people use THC (especially today's high potency products), then more will be at risk to have schizophrenia. This increases the risk for homelessness.

Hermosa Beach author teams with student director to turn story of her brother's homelessness, drug abuse into short film

From The Daily Breeze: Article about how our short film, A Night In Jail, shines a light on homelssness and mental illness. This excellent article brought our work to the attention of Manhattan Beach Safe, a local organization helping people get off the streets. Several months later, we did an event together with the teen-led short film. I am grateful to say NBC-LA covered our collaboration.

Student-led short film “A Night In Jail” provides stunning take on evocative story

I am so proud of this article. It was written by a high school senior who loved the short film, A Night In Jail. Teens really respond to the story and to the fact it was directed by a teen.

Teens Using Weed: A Link to Psychosis, Depression, Suicide & Lower GPA (Show #143)

From Parent Pump Radio: Parent-focused podcast. We discuss my brother's story and discuss these questions: What is the link between early cannabis use & future mental disorder? How does marijuana affect a child's developing brain? Can marijuana use lower GPA?

Letter to a High School Newspaper Editorial Staff

From the Redondo Union High School: their newspaper wrote about the pro's and con's of marijuana. Their reporting said marijuana is safer than other drugs with dangerous side effects. I respectfully pointed out that acquiring any mental illness is a very dangerou side effect.

A Conversation with H.A. Swan

In this conversation with the editor of Underrated Reads, I share some painful memories from when my brother was on the streets: "For many agonizing years, our family didn't know where he was, how to help him or if he was even alive. How did this happen?"

A NIGHT IN JAIL: A story about drugs and mental illness, inspired by true events

Highly Rated Review From Underrated Reads: "...it's a riveting tale based on true events. Readers will be hooked at every page until the surprise ending."

Did My Brother's Teen Pot Use Lead to His Schizophrenia?

From The Marijuana Report: See this generous mention of A Night In Jail; it is the third article on this page: "This is a heart-breaking account of what families go through when a member becomes addicted and is unable to see that he or she needs help to enter recovery."

We Did Not Vote to Legalize Dabbing

Do you know what "dabbing" is? Most people don't. It's using very high potency marjuana. I wasn't even aware it existed when we voted for legalization. This is a letter I wrote to the editor of our local paper about this.

Bob Enyart Radio Interview

Bob Enyart kindly granted me my first radio interview. I am sad to say he passed away. We ended talking about how my brother said attending the staged reading of A Night In Jail was the happiest day of his life. Then, Bob adds, "Wow. What a sister!" I will always be grateful for how welcoming Bob was to me.

2017 A NIGHT IN JAIL: A story about drugs and mental illness, inspired by true events

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On behalf of the entire Youth Advisory Council, thank you for your inspiring and informative presentation at last month's meeting. Your expertise and passion for the subject matter truly impacted our young participants, providing them with valuable insights and guidance. We have recently compiled the reflection forms from our members, and I am delighted to share some of the overwhelmingly positive feedback we received about your presentation: "What resonated with me the most has to be when Heidi was talking about cannabis. Since I know many people who are addicted to it and believe that it does no harm, but in reality, them going a day without [cannabis], they get impatient and crave it." "I resonated the most with Heidi Swan's presentation on how cannabis affects mental health because cannabis is a big problem within schools, specifically public schools, but more in Los Angeles as a whole. Learning this information was really helpful, but I think too we were lucky to have the opportunity of this resource. This presentation needs to be shared with public schools all over." Your dedication to empowering and educating the next generation of leaders is commendable. We are fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn from you, and we hope to continue collaborating in the future. Once again, thank you for your time and invaluable contribution to our Youth Advisory Council meeting. We wish you continued success and look forward to staying connected.

Chhandasi (Pamina) Bagchi (MPH, Positive Youth Development Initiative, Maternal, Child & Adolescent Health, LA County Department of Public Health)

Heidi Swan presented on January 27, 2021, to NAMI Solano County Members and the general community. She was the evening speaker for our General meeting and presented the book she co-authored, titled A Night in Jail. The book was inspired by her brother's experiences with homelessness, drug addiction, eighteen arrests and a diagnosis of schizophrenia. The book details Cannabis Induced Psychosis (a diagnosis found in DSM-5). Heidi uses the story to promote education and prevention. Her professional and personal experiences are weaved into the story which captures the audience's attention. She is an outspoken activist, dedicated to preventing addiction, reducing homelessness, and providing mental health support. Her presentation was organized, empathetic and energized. She easily adapted her presentation to the mood and needs of the audience, making the experience mutually beneficial. It was a pleasure to have her present and the audience feedback was entirely positive. As the Executive Director for NAMI Solano County, I highly recommend Heidi as a presenter.

Dr. Cerrene Cervantes, Executive Director, NAMI Solano County

"Your presentation to the students was very encouraging. Your story of struggle and redemption when confronted with the power of drug addiction spoke volumes to our students, many of which have their own stories of addiction. Your story however, came from a place where many of our students can't relate, and that is, a fairly wealthy and privileged individual who had the world at his fingertips but instead decided to succumb to the addiction of drugs. It provided our students with opportunity to see that no matter who you are or where you come from or how much money you have, drugs are powerfully addictive and are capable of ruining lives regardless of your background. The story of your brother's journey will enable students to see the other side of the coin and provide a different perspective for inner-city youth who are socio-economically deprived." Thank you again for sharing your story.

John Cotton Principal, Angeles Forest PAU (Juvenile Detention Facility) Division of Student Programs

The facts and information you shared are powerful and extremely relevant to our mental health community and the general public. I agree that this information must be made available to more people so we can help other prevent these same mistakes in their own lives and the lives of their loved ones.

Jolissa Hebard, NAMI Long Beach Area

Thank you, again, for presenting such a great program with Esquire CLE.

Kyle Robinson (Esquire Continuing Legal Education)

In Heidi Swan's heartfelt, enlightening presentation to our Beach Cities Prevention Community Council, she skillfully weaved science-based research with facts from her brother's story of substance abuse to help us better understand the causal relationship between marijuana addiction and the onset of mental illness.

Raunda Jones, Prevention Coordinator, Behavioral Health Services, Inc.

Heidi Swan recently presented to the Professional Fiduciary Association of California (PFAC), a trade organization representing over 1,200 professionals serving as trustees, probate administrators, financial and health care decisionmakers, conservators and guardians, and their affiliated professionals, who coordinate and hire case managers, custodial care and skilled care providers of health care, mental illness, substance abuse, addiction and homelessness services. Heidi's presentation about the dangers of marijuana use - the high toxicity; its effect on biology and the brain (particularly teens and young adults whose brains are still forming); its use as a "gateway" drug that leads to use of more powerful illegal drugs; its impact on human performance and mental development that strongly correlates to later physical and mental illness; its contribution to rapidly increasing numbers of "failure to thrive", hospitalization, incarceration, ODs and deaths; the personal effect on her own family due to a sibling's use of marijuana - was a tremendous education for those families and PFAC professionals who are on the front lines dealing with these issues every day. The presentation provided substantial data from trusted, reliable sources - healthcare professionals, researchers and government agency representatives - that shed light on the origins, evolution, current state and trends of marijuana use and related illnesses, and the enormous financial impact on families, society and government. It was helpful to learn of various advocacy groups who are lobbying for change and the results of their efforts. I strongly recommend that everyone watch this presentation to inform themselves and their loved ones and friends of the dangers of marijuana use, and to learn how to participate in the discussion.

Ron Miller, California Licensed Professional Fiduciary and National Certified Guardian

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Heidi A. Swan

Bio

Keynotes

"Storytelling In Prevention Education".