K. Anderson was a homeless drug addict with schizophrenia who went to jail eighteen times. He is now living a life of recovery.
Heidi is his sister. Together they wrote A NIGHT IN JAIL: a fictional cautionary tale inspired by K.'s true life events. Please see their website: www.ANightInJail.com
As a teenager, Heidi had a psychotic experience while using marijuana. Frightened, she rarely used the substance while her brother, who liked losing touch with reality, used it regularly. He has schizophrenia. It is the goal of brother and sister to make sure youth know there are mental health risks to using THC (the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana). It is imperative to understand what can harm a brain to ensure the best chance at a lifetime of mental wellness.
Heidi is proud to have appeared in the final season of Dr. Phil. She appeared on the episode titled, "Is America too High on Marijuana?" She made comments about why she regrets voting for legalization in California. She said we didn't vote for candies and other child-attractive products that are twenty time stronger than old-fashioned marijuana (commercialization has brought new & highly potent THC products without any warnings about the mental health risks).
In May 2023, Heidi was honored to be interviewed by the popular Web TV series, California Insider. To watch the full episode, go here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAaxRn1rEOc
California Insider made two very short videos taken from the interview:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/yVT7mrAoyro
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/kvjOHPZQz4w
On California Inisder, Heidi spoke about her work on SB 1097, the first bill in California to add mental health risks to the warning labels of THC products. The bill was pulled due to industry pressure. Had SB 1097 gone through, it would have been California's first regulation on THC products. To see an article Heidi wrote about how this consumer protection could prevent some mental illness and some future homelessness, go here:
https://anightinjail.com/index.php/2022/04/14/warning-labels-prevent-homelessness-on-emotionally-naked/
In July 2023, Heidi was on the popular Web TV show, The Gazlov Gang where she discusses her family's predisoposition to mental illness and that THC is an environmental risk factor to pull the trigger for psychosis. She also talks about how the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in California, accepted her proposal to speak at their annual state conference but then rescinded her offer because, she was told, THC is too touchy. To see the full interview, go here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBkni1_KVOo&t=362s
The Glazov Gang kindly showed a two minute video Heidi wrote and coproduced. The video, co-produced with www.EveryBrainMatters.org shows the large amount of THC an 18-year-old with a medical marijuana card can legally purchase in Colorado To see the 6 minute version of This Much THC is Not Medicinal go here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPxhPiZJmts&t=3s
Also with www.everybrainmatters.org, Heidi co-produced this a 3 min short video about how some of our elected leaders claim the legalized states are providing consumer protections; however, there has been a sharp rise in Emergency Room visits due to today's high potency THC products. Watch it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsgRJ6-q92A&t=2s
In 2021, she was interviewed by Fox.com about the dangers of normalizing marijuana in our country. To see both the recorded and written interviews go here: https://anightinjail.com/index.php/2021/07/23/why-arent-our-lawmakers-being-honest-about-thc-risks/
A Night In Jail is not just a novella and an audiobook, it is has also been adapted for the screen. To see an interview by NBC-LA with Heidi and Kirk about their fantastic teen-led short film, go here: https://anightinjail.com/index.php/2020/01/16/our-first-tv-interview-nbcla/
Another theatrical adaptation of A Night In Jail is the play for the stage. Heidi is grateful to say the amazing actor, Stephen Lang (of Avatar), starred in a staged reading of it. There was a full house. A standing ovation. It was so awesome. https://anightinjail.com/index.php/2018/10/27/stars-of-avatar-in-staged-reading-of-a-night-in-jail/
During Covid, Heidi co sponsored four webinars with Behavioral Health Services (a contractor with Los Angeles County Substance Abuse Prevention and Control). Most notably, they held a panel with the Medical Director of the NBA, Dr. Stephen Taylor, and Darren Prince, Magic Johnsons' agent, along with the editor of the first medical textbook on cannabis, Dr. Ken Finn. It was the first-of-its-kind educational event, made especially for teen athletes. To see an 80 sec highlight video of the event go here: https://anightinjail.com/index.php/2020/12/14/what-teen-athletes-need-to-know-about-drugs/
With the NCAA considering lifting the ban on marijuana, this webinar is even more relevant today.
As far as Heidi is aware, she taught the first-ever Coninuing Education course, for both attorneys and fiduciaries, about marijuana use and the increased risk to mental illness. She has spoken for the Alcoholics And Substance Abuse Providers of New York State, loca NAMI chapters in California, MATFORCE in Arizona, Community Coaltions of Virginia, at a juvenile detention facility, community prevention meetings, Rotary Clubs and for a youth council. She hosted a discussion on drugs and mental illness on an app and is grateful to have had her first radio interview with the late Bob Enyart from Denver, Colorado.
Heidi was an actress in her former career. She voiced the iconic video game character, Jill Valentine, in Resident Evil REmake (2002). She loves the Resident Evil fans.
See these thoughts from Heidi about the writing of this book:
"When my brother was finally off drugs, out of jail, housed and receiving psychiatric treatment, he and I began having conversations about what his life was like, and what his perceptions were, when he was in the throes of his illnesses. It was horrible and fascinating all at once.
At about the same tim, I saw studies and articles about how the teenage brain is far more vulnerable than that of an adult’s to substance use. Because a teenage brain is still developing, substances can cause long-lasting, and sometimes irreversible, damage. It turns out that a teen brain gets addicted easier, stronger, and longer than an adult brain.
Additionally, I read about a link between teen marijuana use and an increased risk for psychosis and schizophrenia. It shocked me: it sound just like my brother. His story tragically illustrates almost all of the risks of teen marijuana use. With this novella, we hope to prevent others from making the same mistakes."
To discuss the science in an easy-to-read document, Heidi sought the guidance of long-time schizophrenia researcher, Dr. Christine L Miller. Together, they compiled an educational toolkit to provide answers to commonly asked questions about the link between marijuana use and mental illness. The A NIGHT IN JAIL TOOLKIT serves as a document to scientificaly support the themes of A NIGHT IN JAIL. To download this free toolkit go here:
https://anightinjail.com/index.php/product/educational-toolkit/
To see more videos and blog posts, go to www.ANightInjail.com.
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