Becker’s Healthcare Podcast Joseph Lee, MD, President and CEO of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation
Dec 25, 2025
Joseph Lee, MD, is a child psychiatrist and the President and CEO of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, leading efforts in substance use treatment. He discusses the alarming youth crisis, linking trauma and isolation to rising mental health issues. Dr. Lee emphasizes the risks associated with cannabis normalization and the importance of integrated care for better recovery outcomes. He shares poignant stories about community involvement and family engagement, underscoring their vital roles in supporting young people's recovery journeys.
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Isolation As The Root Problem
- Young people show anxiety, depression and trauma as surface symptoms of deeper social isolation and lost developmental frameworks.
- Isolation, lack of group skills and inability to be vulnerable amplify mental health and substance problems.
Normalization Raises Risk For High-Risk Youth
- Legalization and commercialization lower perceived risk, concentrating harm in high-risk youth who normalize cannabis use.
- Increased potency and vaping make cannabis-related mental health problems more common among vulnerable adolescents.
Fuse Treatment With Community And Family
- Integrate mental health and addiction care in one setting and teach families skills alongside patients.
- Combine evidence-based therapies with community, volunteering and group belonging to improve outcomes.