For those of us who have been following mass shootings and subsequently developed strong suspicions that pharmaceuticals were somehow involved– we have a win. And it’s a good one.

Remarkably, Tennessee lawmakers have just passed a bill that brings transparency to potential links between mass shooters and the pharmaceutical and behavioral health industries.

HB 1349/SB 1146 was co-drafted by Sheila Mathews, co-founder of AbleChild, and Amy Miller, former director of Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s Reform Pharma initiative.

Documentation of Psychotropic Drug Use

The bill is two and a half pages short, to the point, and easy to understand. Every word speaks to the task of discovering and documenting the psychotropic drug use of mass shooters and making that information available to the public.

Vital information, formally cloaked by HIPAA violation claims, can now be disclosed to the public in some circumstances. The bill mandates: “disclose the psychotropic drug use of the individual to the public upon request.” ¹

University of Tennessee’s Participation

The legislation doesn’t end with obtaining the raw data behind mass shootings. It tasks the University of Tennessee’s Health Science Center to study “interactions between the psychotropic drugs and any other drugs that were present in the decedent’s system.”

Thanks to these two brave women, Georgia and other states now have a precedent.

Sheila Mathews

I have been following the activities of Sheila Mathews and AbleChild for a few years.

Sheila is the quintessential grassroots David fighting Goliath and The Little Engine that Could type of hero. David had a sling and five stones to fight the giant. Sheila fights with pocket change and sheer will against an industry that has billions.

Her success in disclosing the truth about psychiatric labels, drugging, and other related topics in her twenty-something years of work is noteworthy – especially under the circumstances.

I wanted to know more about Sheila. Who is she, and what drives her to keep up the fight? What does she foresee happening in her arena?

She was able to take time from her busy schedule for an interview. After giving Sheila a well done for her recent accomplishment, we dug in.

I have been following your work with AbleChild. No matter what, you continue to fight for the right of the public to know the truth about psychotropic drugs. How did you get involved in this arena?

The oldest of my two sons was impacted by the approach the school took with him when he was in grade school. He was verbal, full of energy and eager to go to school. The school decided his behavior was a problem and placed him on a behavioral health chart – if he was good, he would get a smiley face. They gave me documents that talked about his “ADHD” and suggested he take drugs.

They told me the plan was to use a combination of behavioral modification with drugs. I didn’t agree.

He was only seven at the time. He made it through the public school system without a mental health diagnosis or drugs because I intervened and said “No.”

My son is now 31 and has never had a psychiatric diagnosis or medication.

He is a successful entrepreneur and owns a PR firm.

People are often told that there is no other path for their children or themselves beyond psychiatry. Because of my experience with my son, I wanted others to understand that there is a way out. So, I continued the fight.

Tell us a bit about your work with Ablechild and some issues that concern you.

As I started to get involved – I became more active in the legislative process. Legislation is where the process of trying to make a difference took me. It’s where the fight is.

I discovered that it wasn’t just parents like ourselves who were trying to raise difficult children and were being presented with the limited choice of drugging their children. If you have a difficult child, you have to get to the legislative process to have your voice heard.

It concerned me that it was difficult for parents like me to take off work and testify. It’s an additional job for already busy parents.

I wanted to create a path for other parents.

Through my work, I learned about situations where the state of Connecticut took children from their parents. I learned that the state of Connecticut was drugging these kids, and their parents had no access to them. It’s rough for the parents, and they need help.

When the foster door opened and I looked inside, I saw an overwhelming issue.

In one of your interviews, you mentioned Diane Sawyer. You quoted the statistics of foster children and how they were drugged – tell us about that.

Through my networking efforts with other people in Connecticut, I discovered that foster children were taken to a mental health ward administratively run by the state. These facilities are in other states, but it was Riverview Mental Health “treatment” hospital in Connecticut.

If a child was in the state’s custody, they would stay there for months. I had heard stories but decided I needed to see this place for myself. I had my non-profit status. So, I called the facility and requested to do a tour. My request was granted, and my tour was facilitated. They had prepared for my visit, but it was still eerie – secluded and prison-like.

I was allowed to walk through the halls and visit the area upstairs. There were lock-away rooms with curtains on them. The idea of locking up children haunted me.

It had been arranged for me to meet a gentleman in the office. I asked him how many kids were on psychiatric drugs at the facility. He printed out the pharmacy’s name and how much money they were spending on the drugs. I gave it to Diane Sawyer.²

I testified to get that place shuttered. Unfortunately, the state never closed it. They renamed it after psychiatrist Dr. Albert Solnit.

The place is still operating and receives Medicaid money. It’s like cutting the head off of a snake, but they grow another one. They still have problems.

I made a video about the facility, which people can find on my website. It’s famous. I had hoped to close it down – but I was able to get light on the subject.

What would you consider your biggest victories?

One of my biggest successes came with my work on the Federal prohibition on mandatory medication, officially called the “Prohibition on Mandatory Medication Act.” That was a huge win for children now and children to come. It outlaws the forced drugging of children and was the first bill of its kind.

The law prohibits schools from recommending or requiring that a child take a controlled substance in order to attend school. It covers stimulants such as Adderall, Concerta, and Ritalin.

It’s tied to the No Child Left Behind Act and is part of the 2004 Individuals with Disabilities Act. (IDEA). That is federal law now.³

AbleChild gathered signatures from parents from every state in the country in support of the bill We encouraged people to come to our website and many told their stories there.

We gathered all these names from each state, took them to the Senators of the respective states.

We also took the mothers’ stories and presented those to lawmakers.

AbleChild attended the federal hearings in DC and testified and presented testimonies.

Our actions and the testimonies from other organizations and parents around the country were instrumental in getting the bill passed.

1-800 Med Watch in Connecticut

The other huge accomplishment was visiting the Connecticut State Capitol to get the 1800 Med Watch State SB 28 passed. Living in Westport, Connecticut at the time I had my State Senator (Jonathan Steinberg) to sponsor a bill. By going to the Capitol and talking to this Senator, I was able to help get a state law passed that places the MedWatch 1-800 phone number on generic prescription drug inserts.

That was the biggest win of my life. It wasn’t about agreeing with a Senator but getting a solution to keep children safe.

Once the law was filed, the MedWatch number was placed on the generic drug inserts. ⁴

The Federal MedWatch program is The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program for consumers and health professionals. ⁵

The program encourages the public and healthcare professionals to report serious adverse events connected with drugs through the adverse reporting system.

It’s not only a great program for consumers, but also the only after-market consumer reporting system for adverse drug events. The Federal government takes the data and regulates the drug manufacturers. But the general public doesn’t know about it. Only 1% of the population is aware of this reporting system. This has to change.

Therefore, our next effort is to get MedWatch funded by the government so the public can be made aware of and utilize the system. Few people know MedWatch exists, so their side effects and adverse reactions aren’t reported. Meanwhile, the federal government spends billions of taxpayers’ money funding the drug manufacturers in programs, and research, but does not fund at all the MedWatch consumer protection program.

Funding for MedWatch can bring more awareness and more reporting.

You set the example that grassroots efforts can bring about constructive change in mental health. What advice can you give to other grassroots activists who want to make positive change?

No matter who is in office stay strong and work both sides of the aisle.

Leave your ego at the door.

Don’t work so you can take credit. Just do it. If you work for your ego, it becomes about “Me,” not the issue. In other words, leave your ego at the door.

If you are working with another organization and have disagreements, try to agree where you can. It can’t be about you.

I’ve seen people consumed by ego or their group through the years.

I live a life, and my work doesn’t consume me.

I like working with other organizations. But there have been disagreements along the way. I have learned to stay in my lane and continue doing what I am doing. If an organization tries to tell me what to do or utilizes my work, I know that if I keep doing what’s me, I will be valuable.

Put principles above personalities.

Put your nose into your own work and put principles above personalities. Many people have good intentions but a lot to learn on the issue – you have to let others figure out their own downfalls.

Don’t Compromise your Vision

When working with a group of nonprofits, don’t compromise your vision, but be open to listening to other people’s visions.

I learned that I don’t have all the answers. There were times when even my cofounder and I would fight. I would want to go more out on the ledge than she did. Don’t let disagreements break apart your whole alliance – keep doing the work.

The people who have been with us along the way have stayed because it isn’t about them, it about the issue.

Through the years, some have rejoined; everyone is always welcomed back. Why? because it is for the next generation. This fight is for all of us. If you are looking for money or credit, this is not the fight for you.

The passing of HB 1349/SB 1146 is a legislative milestone and could set a precedent for the rest of the country. How can we bring similar legislation to Georgia?

Take this piece of legislation and go to Health and Human Services or other relevant committees in your legislature. The work has been done – so bring the bill to your legislator.

Try to take the weakness out of the bill. Our bill is very weak, and we know it. But it is a landmark because we conquered one area. Now, it can be strengthened in other states. Tell your lawmaker that the Tennessee bill does not cover shooters who stay alive, and you want to remedy that. We need blood samples from all shooters.

Also, the Tennessee law comes into play if four or more people are killed. Why not if just one person is killed by a mass shooting attempt? You want the mental health records and blood work of the shooters – whether they are alive or dead and regardless of how many people they killed.

You can use AbleChild’s research on mass killings to help educate lawmakers in Georgia and other places. For example, we are going to Wyoming with this. They are very interested because they recently had the trauma of a mom killing her four children and then herself. The Tennessee legislation is just the beginning.

What has inspired you to keep going in spite of the difficulties?

I always hear in my mind – if not me, then who? If not now, then when? I made a promise to my co-founder that we would save the people that we could. She saved me by telling me about the lies that they were telling me about ADHD. She saved me by helping my son and allowing him to lead a beautiful life.

I think humanity is going to slip into darkness if we allow these little lambs to get picked off and slip into the abyss. They will grow up to damage other people.

Honestly, I don’t know how I stuck with it. – It must be the hand of God because sometimes I wake up and don’t want to do it anymore. But it’s a moral commitment I made that I can’t get away from.

When I do something – I know that I did what I could.

How can people learn more about your cause and help?

Our website Ablechild.org. We are a non-profit.

The biggest thing we need help with is to call for federal hearings on the link between psychotropic drugs and the shootings. We need 10,000 signatures to bring to the White House. Even if your child isn’t affected by this, we appreciate the help. You can find the petition here.

We aren’t financially motivated. It’s all about action. That being said, we need financial help to keep our website going, get the word out, and be there for the next family. Our website tells how to give donations.

We don’t have the money behind us, but we will continue to write and talk to people.

The word is mightier than the sword.

Connect with people in Georgia who work on like causes, HERE.

This article is for informational purposes only. For medical advice or diagnosis, consult a professional.

 

 

References:

1.Tennessee Senate Bill 1146.LegiScan 4-29-2025. https://legiscan.com/TN/text/SB1146/id/3107329

2.“New Study Shows U.S. Government Fails to Oversee Treatment of Foster Children With Mind-Altering Drugs”ABC News.Nov 20,2011.https://abcnews.go.com/US/study-shows-foster-children-high-rates-prescription-psychiatric/story

3.Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.“ Prohibition on mandatory medication.”11/7/2019.https://sites.ed.gov/idea/statute-chapter-33/subchapter-ii/1412/a/25

Mathews, Sheila.“New Federal Law Outlaws Schools From Forcing Parents To Drug Kids”.https://www.ablechild.org/legal/federal-legislation/

4.“AN ACT CONCERNING MANUFACTURER NAMES, MEDWATCH REPORTING INFORMATION AND BRAND NAMES ON GENERIC DRUG CONTAINERS.”. Connecticut General Assembly. 2015. https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&which_year=2015&bill_num=28

5.“MedWatch: The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program”.US Food and Drug Administration.5/2025. https://www.fda.gov/safety/medwatch-fda-safety-information-and-adverse-event-reporting-program