Ryan Hampton | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 9, 1980 |
| Education | Marymount University, MAST Academy |
| Occupation(s) | Writer, author |
Ryan Hampton is an American author, public policy advocate, and political candidate recognized for his work in the mental health recovery movement. He has authored three books concerning opioid addiction, mental health recovery, and public policy. Hampton is the founder of the non-profit organization Mobilize Recovery and is active in Nevada politics. [1]
Hampton was born in Miami, Florida. He attended MAST Academy and later Marymount University. [2]
Hampton worked as a staffer in the White House during the Clinton administration. In 2003, after a knee injury, he was prescribed OxyContin and subsequently struggled with opioid addiction until entering long-term recovery in 2015. [3]
Following his recovery, Hampton became active in national addiction recovery advocacy. [3] He was part of the team that contributed to the U.S. Surgeon General's report on alcohol, drugs, and health in 2016. In 2018, he helped author provisions of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act (H.R. 6), including the "Ensuring Access to Quality Sober Living" provision, which became federal law. He also contributed to the drafting and passage of California's patient brokering ban (SB1228) the same year. [2] [4]
Hampton has testified before the U.S. Congress on the opioid crisis and organized a 2019 demonstration at the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
In 2019, Hampton founded Mobilize Recovery, a nonprofit organization that organizes advocates and provides training focused on addiction recovery. The organization has held annual advocacy events and reports having trained over 10,000 advocates nationwide. Its Overdose Response Initiative, conducted in partnership with the Clinton Foundation and Direct Relief International, has distributed nearly one million doses of naloxone across 21 states as of January 2025. [1] [5]
In August 2018, Hampton published his first book, American Fix: Inside the Opioid Addiction Crisis-and How to End It - co-written with Claire Rudy Foster, published by St. Martin's Press/Macmillan Publishing. [6] In American Fix, Hampton writes with candor about his experiences with what he calls a broken treatment system and outlines a political agenda for combatting the nation's addiction crisis. [7]
Hampton is a frequent contributor [8] to The Huffington Post .
In 2024, Hampton was the Democratic candidate for Nevada State Assembly District 4. His platform focused on cost-of-living issues, housing, education, and access to healthcare, including addiction treatment. He received endorsements from several organizations, including the Nevada State Education Association and Planned Parenthood Votes Nevada. In the general election on November 5, 2024, he was defeated by Republican candidate Lisa Cole, who received 54.4% of the vote to Hampton’s 45.6%. [9] [10]
In September 2025, Hampton announced his candidacy for Nevada State Assembly District 9 in the 2026 election. The seat is held by Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager, who has announced his retirement. [9]
In August 2018, Hampton led a 500-person protest against drugmaker Purdue Pharma for their role in the American opioid crisis. [11] He has been at the forefront in calling for accountability from drug makers. [12]
He has been a vocal opponent of Donald Trump. In January 2019, Hampton attended President Trump's State of the Union address as a guest of U.S. House Democrats, representing the addiction recovery advocacy movement. [13]
In 2019, Hampton was appointed by the U.S. Department of Justice to the unsecured creditors’ committee in the Purdue Pharma bankruptcy case, serving as co-chair. He was one of four victims selected to represent individuals affected by the company’s opioids. [14]
In 2025, Hampton appeared on a segment of 60 Minutes to address the bankruptcy settlement. He criticized the structure of the deal, arguing that it favored institutional claimants over individuals and enabled the Sackler family to retain substantial personal wealth. [14]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
