Benjamin Levenson

Ben is the Chairman of The Levenson Foundation (‘TLF’), a US-based family foundation which works to improve the quality and availability of Mental Health, Harm Reduction (which includes treatment) and related support for people who use drugs and their families. Focused on Drug Policy reform and the OD Crisis domestically, Ben leverages diverse relationships across federal and state government, public and private behavioral health, harm reduction, SUD treatment & health plans to advance TLF’s mission. Ben and TLF are focused on helping normalize Harm Reduction-centered care that is responsive to the complex issues drug users face today. In the developing world, TLF has helped lead on key humanitarian population health policy impacting some of the most traumatized and disadvantaged populations in the world as they face related challenges. Ben’s deep belief in person-centered rights and love for people who use drugs and their families was born out of the loss of his older brother and his own personal walk of recovery. In 2009, Ben founded Origins Behavioral HealthCare. Ben led Origins as it quickly became a nationally-recognized institution for the treatment of Substance Use Disorders & complex Dual Dx, with multiple campuses in Texas & Florida. Known for clinical sophistication, strong spiritual influence & its innovative multi-staged continuums of care, Ben sold Origins in Q2 2017 to expand his activities beyond the limitations of domestic treatment & to focus on disruptive systems of lower-threshold care that seeks and values incremental patient-prioritized improvements to the health safety of anyone at-risk, whether they're ready to abstain or not. Ben consults, advises or has works closely with developing world governments, international NGO's, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, WHO, US Governors and Cabinets, national hospital systems, Harm Reduction agencies/alliances and SUD treatment systems regarding related public health and drug policy reform. He is a regular expert resource trusted on both sides of the aisle on Capitol Hill where he educates and advises national policymakers and top staffers on the rapidly shifting public sentiment about drug use and related reforms sweeping across the US and beyond. Ben’s passion keeps him on the front lines where he is asked to speak publicly on Drug User health & safety, SUD treatment, recovery and related policy issues. Ben is a also frequent expert contributor to the national print media and has appeared for over a decade with regularity on TV programs such as the Dr. Phil Show & Cable News Networks.