scroll to top

Addiction Resources for Media and Policymakers

No one knows addiction and recovery like the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. A force of healing and hope since 1949, we are the largest nonprofit provider of drug and alcohol treatment, prevention and recovery resources.

The Institute for Recovery Advocacy carries that experience and perspective into the public sphere, supplying the media and policymakers with front-line facts, statistics and observations; access to the field's leading thinkers and clinicians; and innovative ideas for improving America's approach to this challenging public health issue. We are your go-to connection for information on confronting addiction and the nation's heroin and prescription opioid epidemic.

Latest Press Releases and Surveys

Is One Solution to the Opioid Epidemic to Force Those in Danger of Overdosing Into Treatment? ...read more

America's Opioid Crisis: A National Town Hall ...read more

Opioid Crisis About Much More Than Opioids ...read more

Beyond Binging: High-Intensity Drinking ...read more

Marijuana Is Getting More Powerful ...read more

Minnesota Hosts National Event to Showcase the Addiction Recovery Community ...read more

Doctors Missing Questions That Could Prevent Opioid Addiction ...read more

Institute for Recovery Advocacy Urges Congress to Support Opioid Funding ...read more

Institute for Recovery Advocacy Praises Surgeon General's Historic Report on Addiction ...read more

Recovery Month Events in Dallas ...read more

Institute for Recovery Advocacy Commends American Medical Association's Continued Movement on Opioid Epidemic ...read more

Institute for Recovery Advocacy Applauds Steps Forward on Opioids ...read more

Institute for Recovery Advocacy Joins National Governors Association in Call for Federal Action on Opioids ...read more

Survey Finds Risky Opioid Use Among College-Age Youth ...read more

New York College Students Fail to Grasp Dangers of Marijuana ...read more

Children of Marijuana Users More Likely to Start Using at a Young Age ...read more

National Survey Shows Chronic Pain is Creating an Epidemic of Addiction ...read more

Hear From the People Who Are Carrying on the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation's Strong Advocacy Legacy


Meet our Advocacy and Public Affairs Leaders and World-Class Clinical Leaders

Meet the team spearheading our efforts to educate the public, provide media interviews, shape public policy and the smash the stigma of addiction. Our top physicians frequently testify on Capitol Hill, provide media interviews, speak at national events and consult with policymakers and journalists.

To schedule an interview, contact the Advocacy Team, or to inquire about a subject matter expert, complete our speaker request form.

Nick Motu, Vice President Marketing, Communications, Business Development and Institute for Recovery Advocacy

Nick Motu

Vice President and Chief External Affairs Officer


Nick Motu is responsible for the overall marketing of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, including managing business development activities, advertising, PR/communications and driving national and regional public advocacy efforts supporting treatment issues and advocating for expanded access to treatment benefits. Prior to his 20+ year tenure at Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, Motu served in marketing and publishing management roles at St. Paul Companies, Northwestern National Life and several daily newspapers. Motu earned a BA degree in business/journalism from the College of St. Thomas. He has received numerous awards for his work in communications, advertising and publishing.

Nick Motu, Vice President Marketing, Communications, Business Development and Institute for Recovery Advocacy
Jeremiah Gardner

Jeremiah Gardner

Manager, Public Affairs and Advocacy


Jeremiah Gardner has worked in communications for 20 years. As a former journalist with The Associated Press, he was published in newspapers nationwide and was once named outstanding graduate at The Fund for American Studies Institute on Political Journalism at Georgetown. More recently, Jeremiah worked at The Schwan Food Company in a variety of learning and development roles. He is the co-author of Zero to Something (2014), a book about leadership development, and is co-producing a documentary film, Miracle Cures and the History of Addiction Treatment. In addition to his work with the Institute for Recovery Advocacy, Jeremiah oversees the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation’s online social community, The Daily Pledge. He holds bachelor's degrees in journalism and political science and a master's in addiction studies, and is a licensed counselor in Minnesota.

Jeremiah Gardner
Marv Seppala

Marvin D. Seppala, MD

Chief Medical Officer


Marvin D. Seppala, MD, is the chief medical officer of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, and an adjunct assistant professor at the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies. His responsibilities include overseeing all interdisciplinary clinical practices and maintaining and improving standards of care for the Foundation's addiction treatment programs and services throughout the country. A national expert on addiction treatment, pharmacological treatments and integration of evidence-based practices, Dr. Seppala launched the organization’s influential Comprehensive Opioid Response with the Twelve Steps (COR-12™) protocol for treating opioid addiction and co-authored Integrating the Twelve Steps with Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder. He appears in the media frequently and is also author of Clinician's Guide to the Twelve Step Principles, and a co-author of When Painkillers Become Dangerous, Pain-Free Living for Drug Free People, and Prescription Painkillers, Hazelden Publishing. Learn more

Marv Seppala
Joseph Lee

Joseph Lee, MD

Medical Director of the Youth Continuum


Joseph Lee, MD, has extensive experience in addiction treatment for youth and families from across the country and abroad, providing him an unparalleled perspective on emerging drug trends, co-occurring mental health conditions, and the ever-changing culture of addiction. A triple-board certified physician, Lee completed his medical degree at the University of Oklahoma, his adult psychiatry residency at Duke University Hospital, and his fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry from John Hopkins Hospital. He is a diplomat of the American Board of Addiction Medicine and is a member of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry's Substance Abuse Committee. He is also the author of Recovering My Kid: Parenting Young Adults in Treatment and Beyond, which provides a candid, helpful guide for parents in times of crisis. Learn more

Joseph Lee
William Moyers

William Cope Moyers

Vice President of Public Affairs and Community Relations


William C. Moyers is the vice president of public affairs and community relations for the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. As the organization's public advocate since 1996, Moyers carries the messages about addiction, treatment and recovery to audiences across the nation.  He has appeared on Larry King Live, the Oprah Winfrey show, Good Morning America and National Public Radio.  Moyers is the author of several books including Broken: My Story of Addiction and Redemption, a New York Times best-selling memoir published in 2006 that is still in print. Learn more

William Moyers