Clayton Overcomes Addiction, Homelessness to Earn UM Degree
Dedication and hard work helps grandfather turn his life around while helping others
MAY 9, 2016 BY
OXFORD, Miss. – In 2008, Ricky Clayton was in his early 50s, lost in the throes of a life-threatening painkiller addiction and homeless in Memphis.
Substance abuse had been with him like a shadow for more than 30 years. In 2005, his brother died alone from a heroin overdose in a Burger King bathroom. Clayton, who was himself hopelessly addicted to dilaudid, a powerful opioid prescription painkiller, also took methadone or heroin, both readily available opioids that helped him avoid the painful symptoms of drug withdrawal when he didn’t have dilaudid. Continue reading this story here…
