Wendy Williams launches 24-hour substance abuse hotline
Wendy Williams announced on her Wendy Williams Show that her family’s Hunter Foundation partnered with treatment center T.R.U.S.T. to launch the national resource hotline: 1-888-5HUNTER (1-888-548-6837).
Hunter Foundation partnered with treatment center T.R.U.S.T. to launch the national resource hotline: 1-888-5HUNTER (1-888-548-6837).
[griojw id=”SVIP740Y” playerid=”GqX43ZoG”]
Wendy Williams fans were all types of thrilled when the daytime diva returned to her talk show last week following a two-month health-related hiatus.
Back in the hot seat and spilling that hot pop culture tea, Williams dished about the status of her marriage, provided a health update and promised fans that she was back for the long haul… as long as her health permits it.
The media darling announced even more exciting news on Monday’s all-new Wendy Williams Show when she revealed that her family’s Hunter Foundation partnered with treatment center T.R.U.S.T. to launch the national resource hotline: 1-888-5HUNTER (1-888-548-6837).
“The Hunter Foundation launched a 24-hour nationwide hotline to offer treatment resources to get help for you if you happen to be addicted to drugs and substance abusing,” Williams, 54, told viewers, People reports. “What you do is you call, and your call will be answered by specially-trained, certified recovery coaches. These people will provide you, should you want help, with referrals and treatment facilities. If that’s you, we’re here to help.”
READ MORE: Jordan Peele’s ‘Us’ movie makers waves at SXSW festival premiere
Williams previously opened up about her own battle with a cocaine addiction in her 20s and 30s, as she once told People Magazine that drugs were “a demon I had to overcome.”
“I was a functioning addict,” she shared with Entertainment Tonight last year after she launched the “Be Here” National Campaign, which aims to combat drug addiction and substance abuse. Recalling her days working in radio, Williams said, “I report to work on time, and I’d walk in and all my co-workers, including my bosses, would know but since I would have my headphones on and walk in the studio and [they] wouldn’t fire me because I was making ratings.”
“A functioning addict has several alarm clocks, you’re organized,” Williams continued. “It’s a miracle I was able to stop.”
READ MORE: George Foreman’s daughter, Freeda, died from apparent suicide
Her newly established 24-hour hotline will reportedly be staffed by professional recovery coaches and callers will be matched with treatment facilities across the nation that specialize in detox, rehabilitation, sober living and outpatient treatment.
In a statement, Williams said: “We must all come together to respond to this crisis of addiction and substance abuse. Everyone is at risk from the inner cities to more affluent communities. My family and I are very proud to partner with T.R.U.S.T. to get people the help that they so desperately need, especially if they or their families have given up hope. There is hope.”
Ron Clinton, President of T.R.U.S.T. said, “We are pleased to partner with The Hunter Foundation to help spread the message that there is hope and recovery can work! With over 70,000 overdose deaths in the past year, we can make an impact together to combat this crisis through awareness and treatment. We are grateful to the Hunter family for undertaking this initiative and for asking T.R.U.S.T. to facilitate this life-saving effort.”
The Wendy Williams Show airs weekdays (check local listings).
You Might Like
