William Cope Moyers — saving lives by facing his own addictions

Recovering from addiction can take many twists and turns.

Just ask William Cope Moyers, a former CNN journalist who has experienced the ups and downs of addiction and recovery.

It was exactly 30 years ago this week when the family of Moyers found him in a crack house on Boulevard near the corner of Ponce de Leon Avenue.

In his 2006 book “Broken,” Moyers recounted his journey from being a crack addict to spending his career with the Minnesota-based Hazelden Betty Ford treatment program, helping others overcome their addiction to drugs and alcohol.

As part of his work, Moyers reconnected with people he knew in Atlanta — including former CNN President Tom Johnson — who were interested in improving services for people who were facing issues with substance abuse.

That’s how the Hazelden Betty Ford struck up a partnership agreement with Emory Healthcare. That led to the launch of the Addiction Alliance of Georgia and the official opening of the Emory Addiction Center on Oct. 26, 2022.

Moyers, in many ways, had become a national poster child for successful treatment and recovery. 

But remember, recovery does not happen in a straight line. In 2012, Moyers had oral surgery, and he was prescribed a opioid painkiller by the dentist. It didn’t take long for him to become addicted — a silent struggle he fought from 2013 through 2015.

“There’s another chapter to my story,” Moyers said in a recent telephone interview. “My life journey is exactly what recovery is all about. It’s not linear.”

Moyers has just released his latest book: “Broken Open: What Painkillers Taught Me About Life and Recovery.” Moyers will speak about his journey and his book during a program at the Atlanta History Center on the evening of Oct. 8. 

“The Atlanta presentation is probably my toughest challenge speaking,” Moyers said. “It is a civic-oriented audience that likes to take action, so I need to do well.”

Atlanta also has played a significant role in his story – overcoming the shame he felt for having become addicted to opioids.

“I have had several formative experiences in Atlanta,” Moyers said. “During the time we were cobbling the Addiction Alliance of Georgia team, I began to share my personal story. I began to find my voice in Atlanta.”

The added bonus of his ties to Atlanta has been connecting with others who are not satisfied with the status quo and want to do even more to treat people suffering from addiction and mental health – conditions that often go hand in hand.

One such person is Tom Johnson, a tireless advocate for the treatment of addiction and mental health since he retired from CNN. He helped raise $10 million for “the first phase” of the Emory-Hazelden Betty Ford partnership in the past five years.

“We have learned that so many people who have depression are treating themselves with alcohol and drugs,” Johnson said. “There’s now much more emphasis being placed on dual diagnosis.”

Justine Welsh, medical director of the Addiction Alliance of Georgia and director of addiction services for Emory Healthcare, is proud of the “significant strides” they have made.

“We are providing comprehensive care,” Welsh said of the mostly outpatient services available. “Last year alone, we provided over 4,417 patient visits. We opened in September 2002, and we have seen 1,060 unique patients.”

But Johnson still wants more.

“I have an aspiration to build a long-term residential treatment center,” said Johnson, who estimates it would cost between $50 million and $60 million to build such a facility. “I’m convinced we can raise it. So many people understand the need for long-term residential treatment.”

Welsh said the Addiction Alliance of Georgia “is exploring the feasibility” of a residential treatment facility “in the most effective way.” They are assessing both the need for such a facility as well as the ability of the community to raise the necessary dollars.

“We are very early in our conversations assessing the needs of and the support of the community,” Welsh said.

Interestingly enough, a shift in thinking is underway. Traditionally, addiction and mental illness have been viewed as two separate conditions. Now there is growing recognition of the overlap that exists — and the need to treat both addiction and mental illness — for successful treatment and recovery.

But there are still subtle distinctions. While there’s consensus that dual diagnosis exists, some facilities treat mental illness as the primary cause with substance abuse as secondary, while some treat substance abuse as the primary issue with mental illness as secondary.

Beth Finnerty is president and CEO of Skyland Trail, a high-quality Atlanta residential treatment facility for people suffering with mental illnesses enjoying its 35th anniversary this year. 

“We are seeing 45 percent of our patients with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse issues,” Finnerty said in a telephone interview. “We are going to build a residential treatment program for people who have a dual diagnosis.”

But she added that the primary emphasis will be on mental health services.

Skyland Trail has acquired two contiguous properties — the now-closed Rusty Nail and the Hampton Inn — and it is studying the feasibility of a capital campaign to build a residential treatment facility with 32 beds as well as expanding its primary care clinic and build a parking deck. That project is likely to be launched in 2025.

“The need is great for residential beds for people with dual diagnosis,” said Finnerty, who proudly said Skyland Trail provides financial aid for people who can’t afford the services. “We have a long waiting list right now.”

Meanwhile, Hazelden Betty Ford tends to treat addiction first and mental illnesses second.

“It is my dream that Hazelden Betty Ford’s presence in Atlanta and Georgia can help more people like me in the times ahead,” Moyers said. “The original group of supporters wants quality treatment in Atlanta.”

Moyers was able to overcome his addiction to opioids by taking anti-craving medications, which can be controversial in traditional 12-step treatment programs.

“I started taking anti-craving medications in 2016. It worked instantly,” Moyers said. “My faith, my community and that medication gave me the clarity to get back on track.”

Moyers, however, said he has been alarmed “by the lack of progressive approaches to treating addiction in Georgia.” The South seems to have a bias against helping treat people with medicines that can reduce their cravings for drugs and alcohol.

“There need to be more options,” said Moyers, who added that Hazelden Betty Ford began prescribing anti-craving medications in 2011. “It is the 75th anniversary of Hazelden Betty Ford. We have to embrace science and medicine when it comes to understanding addiction and treatment.”

Moyers relationship with Atlanta has helped galvanize the community and helped treat people who suffer from addiction and mental illness. That relationship seems destined to strengthen as the community navigates the best solutions, including long-term residential treatment facilities.

But there’s also a deeply personal story for Moyers, whose father is Bill Moyers, the internationally acclaimed television journalist who has been a dear friend of Tom Johnson for decades. It was the older Moyers who discovered his son in the crack house on Boulevard on Oct. 12, 1994.

“My father is 90, and my mother is 89,” Moyers said in our telephone interview. “My father recently told me: ‘Son, I’m proud of you. You have saved more lives in 65 years than I have saved in 90.’”

And the work continues.