In 1994 William Cope Moyers lay on the floor of an Atlanta crack house after years of drug and alcohol abuse. His father had put together a search party while his worried family waited at home. After hitting rock-bottom that drug-hazed night, William went on to become an executive at the Hazelden Foundation, a drug treatment and rehabilitation center where for the past decade he has committed himself to helping people, families and communities understand the power of addiction and the promise and possibility of recovery.
William uses his own personal experiences to carry the message to policy makers, civic groups, churches and schools across America. He has appeared on Larry King Live, the Oprah Winfrey Show, the Today Show, and his work has been featured in scores of newspapers and other publications.
His efforts have been honored by numerous organizations, including the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD), which awarded him and his family its highest achievement award, the Gold Key. He also has received the Arthur Liman Public Interest Award from the Legal Action Center. This award salutes families and individuals whose work has advanced public understanding of public policy issues related to addiction.
William joined Hazelden in 1996 after a 15-year career in journalism. He also served as president of the Johnson Institute Foundation in 2000-2002.
In 1981, William received his Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from Washington & Lee University in Lexington, VA.
William lives with his wife and three children in St. Paul, Minnesota.
