Shortly after Edward Peacock IV died at age 41, the seeds were planted to start the Edward Peacock IV Addiction to Recovery Support Fund and this spring it has bloomed.
The program designed to help students dealing with addiction received two checks totaling $102,000 at Tuesday’s Clarksdale Rotary Club meeting with a commitment for another $48,000.
Ford McElroy and investors have created Dream Recovery and recently signed a contract with Ole Miss for a 10-week, 10-hour-a-week, on-campus treatment program designed to keep students in school as they fight addiction.
“It is believed that students receiving treatment where they live and remain in their everyday environment are more apt to be more successful becoming drug and alcohol free than returning home from treatment where he or she is again with his drug and alcoholic friends,” said Ed Peacock, of Clarksdale. “In addition, it will allow an individual to remain in school and not be kicked out or have to drop out.”
The goal of the program is to get young people to get help who may have been struggling with addiction for years. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse reports alcohol use often begins during adolescence and becomes more likely as they become young adults.
In 2019, almost 2 out of 100 adolescents ages 12 to 13 reported drinking alcohol in the past month. NIAA data says a survey of college students reported, almost 53 percent of full-time college students ages 18 to 22 drank alcohol in the past month and about 33 percent engaged in binge drinking during that same time frame.
For the purposes of that survey, binge drinking was defined as consuming five drinks or more on one occasion for males and four drinks or more for females. However, some college students drink at least twice that amount.
“These students will be individuals that fraternities and sororities have referred to the William McGee Wellness Center that desperately need help,” Peacock added. “Admission will be determined by the William McGee Center or Dream Recovery’s clinical therapists.”
Thus far, $21,175 in memorials have been donated to the Foundation for Edwards Addiction Recovery Fund. Tuesday’s announcement is linked to Ole Miss’ Annual Giving Day which is April 5 and 6. The fund is listed with all Ole Miss’ designated funds that individuals, civic organizations and corporations can contribute to.
The University of Mississippi will host a formal announcement and publicize the program in the Alumni Magazine that goes to more than 21,000 Ole Miss family and friends this spring.
“Ann and I and our two daughters are so honored that this program is possibly the first of its kind in the nation,” said Peacock. “If not the first, certainly one of the first.”
The program is accepted by insurance policies that cover addiction recovery. But Edward’s program becomes involved when the student does not have insurance or can’t afford such programs.
Students will put up $200 of “earnest money” to prove they want to get well. Again, the goal is to get a student to seek help and start the road to recovery.
“The cost of treatment under Edward’s program has been discounted by about half, costing Edwards Fund $5,950 for each student,” said Peacock. “If you have ever sent a loved one to treatment, you know how expensive treatment facilities are.”
Edward’s program will start August 15. The goal is to reach a sustaining amount of at least $200,000.
“David (McGee with the Ole Miss Foundation) has told us that one day you will have a student or former student knock on your door and tell you that you saved his or her life,” said Peacock. “If we can change one person’s life and he or she becomes a productive citizen of society, we will be ecstatic. We certainly anticipate it being more.”
Anyone wanting to donate any amount can contact or mail a check to The University of Mississippi Foundation, in care of the Edward Peacock IV Foundation, 406 University Avenue, Oxford, MS 38655.
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