Mom Turns Tragedy Into Mission to Prevent Teen Drug Addiction

Kristen Gilliand, PhD shares her personal story and research on the adolescent brain to educate parents and youth.

Mar. 24, 2026 at 4:05am

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After losing her 17-year-old son Anders to an accidental overdose, Kristen Gilliand, PhD has dedicated her life to educating youth and parents on the science behind drug addiction and mental health challenges. As the Executive Director of the nonprofit 22 Forever, Gilliand shares her personal story and research on how the adolescent brain is primed for addiction, the role of mental health, and what parents can do to prevent substance abuse.

Why it matters

Gilliand's work is crucial as drug use among teenagers continues to be a major public health concern. Her approach of using brain science to drive prevention efforts aims to counteract traditional programs like DARE that have proven ineffective. By empowering parents and youth with knowledge, Gilliand hopes to reduce the alarming rates of teen addiction and overdose.

The details

After losing her son Anders to an overdose in 2019, Gilliand shifted her career from academic research to full-time advocacy and education. As an Associate Professor at Vanderbilt, she had previously studied new treatments for schizophrenia, which her son developed likely due to high-potency cannabis use in his early teens. Now, Gilliand travels the country delivering presentations to youth, parents, law enforcement, and prevention programs on the science behind adolescent brain development and substance abuse. She has also produced an award-winning documentary 'Speaking Through Me' to further spread her message.

  • Gilliand's son Anders died from an accidental overdose in 2019.
  • Gilliand launched the nonprofit 22 Forever in 2021 to honor her son's memory.
  • Gilliand's documentary 'Speaking Through Me' was released in August 2023.

The players

Kristen Gilliand, PhD

The Executive Director of the nonprofit 22 Forever and a former Associate Professor at Vanderbilt University who researched new treatments for schizophrenia. Gilliand lost her 17-year-old son Anders to an accidental overdose in 2019, inspiring her to dedicate her life to educating youth and parents on the science behind addiction and mental health.

Anders

Gilliand's 17-year-old son who developed schizophrenia, likely due to high-potency cannabis use in his early teens, and tragically died from an accidental overdose in 2019.

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What they’re saying

“After Kristen's 17-year-old son, Anders, developed schizophrenia – which was most likely associated with high-potency cannabis use in his early teens – Kristen joined the Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery at Vanderbilt University (2018).”

— Kristen Gilliand, PhD, Executive Director, 22 Forever

“Tragically, Kristen lost her son to an accidental overdose in 2019 when his mental health severely declined, and he became addicted to opioids and stimulants.”

— Kristen Gilliand, PhD, Executive Director, 22 Forever

What’s next

Gilliand plans to continue delivering presentations nationwide and developing a middle school brain health curriculum to help prevent adolescent substance abuse and mental health challenges.

The takeaway

Gilliand's personal tragedy has fueled her mission to use brain science to educate youth and parents on the risks of drug use and the importance of mental health. Her approach aims to counteract ineffective prevention programs and empower families with the knowledge to make healthier choices.