Maks Ezrin

Founder and CEO

Born and raised in New York, Maks Ezrin had his own experience with early addiction. As a child, Maks enjoyed everything the city had to offer. He attended the best schools, maintained a rigorous course load, enjoyed a wide and varied social circle, and had the support of a loving family.

Despite these advantages, by age 14, Maks began experimenting with drugs and alcohol. His substance dependence worsened during college, eventually leading to a near-fatal overdose in his early-20s. Through the help of friends and family, Maks has been sober since 2016.

Recognizing the importance of early detection and support of sober mentors, Maks has dedicated himself to giving back by helping other young pre-addicts. His experience propelled him to connect with leaders in the addiction and recovery field to raise awareness and help mitigate the effects of addiction- the ‘silent problem’ most families don’t notice until it is too late. Together with Natasha Silver Bell, an internationally recognized figure in the recovery field, and Dr. Rami Kaminski, a renowned pioneer in the psychiatric field, Maks founded Youth Prevention Mentors.

In addition to his CARC certification, Maks has received a Masters in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania.