Born and raised in New York, Maks experienced early addiction. As a child, 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 – but 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 mid-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 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 recognised figure in the recovery field, and Dr Rami Kaminski, a renowned pioneer in the psychiatric field, Maks founded Youth Prevention Mentors.