Gwyneth Brown
Mother, Writer, and Activist Fighting the Fentanyl Epidemic
Still Mom: One mother’s journey through activism, education and grief
“I lost part of my soul when Laird died.”
On July 1, 2023, Gwyn received a call from her ex-husband that their son had died. The devastation that followed, not just for Laird’s family, but for his friends, girlfriend, and their parents, was extreme. Nearly a year later, Laird’s siblings and parents are still struggling to cope with his loss, and his closest friends battle daily to merely survive after his death.
In the days after Laird’s death, Gwyn began the first of many interviews with local, national and international TV, newspaper and online publications. Interviews and OpEds focused on the devastating loss of her son, education about fentanyl use, and how deeply fentanyl had become entrenched in the community, especially the school where her son went.
About 10 days after Laird’s death, a suspect was arrested on a ‘death by distribution’ warrant. The suspect was initially given a $100,000 bond, however, within hours the bond was dropped to $50,000 and the suspect made the $5,000 bail in less than 24 hours from his arrest.
Unfortunately, despite having photographic evidence and cell phone records corroborating the drug buy, the ADA declined to prosecute.
Due to this legal sucker punch, Gwyn began driving change on two fronts:
- #JusticeForLaird: a grassroots campaign, in partnership with other fentanyl focussed non-profits, driving legislative change at the local and state level.
- #LiveForLaird: educating teens and their parents about fentanyl, how drugs have become exponentially stronger over the past 30 years, and how to ask for help.
Still working through crippling grief on a daily basis, and dreading the one-year anniversary coming up, Gwyn is determined to make a difference.
Signature Topics
Fighting Back Against the Fentanyl Epidemic
Gwyn discusses how she turned her pain into a mission using the media to shine a light on this epidemic that is killing 100,000 people, mostly kids, all across the country. She unveils the parent pitfalls and shares the must-dos to keep our children safe.
Forever Laird
Gwyn shares the story of her son Laird.
To Be Continued- A Mother’s Journey Through Grief
Gwyn shares her journey with grief as she crawls through this first year without her son. Her raw and honest recounting of the sadness she carries, the anger she battles, and the acceptance she’ll never be ok serves as an excellent insight for others on the truth of what it is to lose a loved one and keep moving forward.
Still Mom
Exploring the struggle to carry on for your other children after losing a child. When is it your time to grieve, and how much do you share?