Ted Williams: Homeless to Hollywood to Help

It’s an inspirational story: A homeless man with a golden voice is plucked from the streets and whisked to New York and Hollywood where he fields dozens of life-changing job offers. He’s reunited with his family – including his mom and nine children – and appears on morning talk shows, late night TV and Dr. Phil.

Who doesn’t deserve a second chance, right?

Life is rarely that easy, though, and such radical changes can be hard to handle for the healthiest individual. Now homeless former radio voice Ted Williams is headed for treatment to deal with his drug and alcohol addictions, something that didn’t surprise addiction and homeless experts following the story.

Substance Abuse

Substance abuse is the single largest cause of homelessness for single adults, according to a July 2009 study published by the National Coalition for the Homeless. “Although obtaining an accurate, recent count is difficult, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) estimates, 38 percent of homeless people were dependent on alcohol and 26 percent abused other drugs,” according to the report.

While a high percentage of homeless people do struggle with substance abuse, the report insists that “addictions should be viewed as illnesses and require a great deal of treatment, counseling and support to overcome.” The report goes on to point out that substance abuse can be both a cause and a result of homelessness, just as likely to arise after people lose their housing.

The whirlwind began for Williams, 53, when a Columbus Dispatch reporter videotaped him panhandling on the side of the road. The video was posted online and quickly went viral. Now, barely a week after the media onslaught began, Williams has voluntarily checked into substance abuse rehab for alcohol and drug dependency, according to a spokeswoman for The Dr. Phil Show.

Prior to entering treatment, Williams told several different interviewers that he’d been sober for the past two years after years of addiction, a problem that separated him from his family and left him homeless.

Williams made the decision at the urging of show host, Phil McGraw, after a physical altercation with family members that led to police involvement. (Williams and his estranged family were in Los Angeles to appear on the show.)

"If Ted is ever going to get better, he's got to be honest with himself and admit he's addicted to drugs and alcohol," McGraw said in the statement. "I've told him it's not going to be easy and it's going to take a lot of hard work. It might be a long journey for him, but this is a big step in the right direction."

Addiction Rehab

If you or someone you love is battling alcoholism, call The Canyon at our toll-free number. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.