The Wrestling Takes Down Drugs program helped fulfill the dreams of several young wrestlers as it awarded seven scholarships to the Long Beach summer wrestling camp. In addition to the financial support given to the wrestlers, the wrestling camp took time out of its week-long curriculum to highlight the dangers that addictive drugs can inflict on people of all ages and their families.
“By highlighting the pitfalls of drug abuse through the Wrestling Takes Down Drugs program, the wrestling camp staff was able to convey a powerful, yet subtle message to avoid addictive drugs that was well received by all the wrestlers,” said Kevin Murphy, Director of the WTDD program. “Raising awareness of the dangers of addictive drugs before young athletes ever try them is one of the greatest antidotes to addiction,” he added.
The Wrestling Takes Down Drugs program was created by the Friends of Long Island Wrestling, Inc., a non-profit 501c3 organization that strives to promote the positive attributes of the sport of amateur wrestling.
There is not a single community across the country that is immune from the heroin and opioid epidemic. This is one of the most pressing and serious issues for a whole generation of young Americans. Drug overdose is now the leading cause of death for Americans under the age of 50.
The mission of Wrestling Takes Down Drugs is to expand, strengthen and educate our local wrestling programs to build self-esteem in our young athletes necessary to avoid the temptation of drug and alcohol abuse.
We believe the Wrestling Takes Down Drugs campaign offers a major step forward for fighting this epidemic in 2 ways:
1) Prevention – Empowering the youth of America to avoid the temptation of drugs by focusing their energies on strengthening their mind and body through the sport of wrestling; and
2) Treatment – Supporting local drug counseling centers to help strengthen the mind and body of those already caught in the web of addiction.
Your involvement is critical to our success and solving this issue.
Thank you again for your help.
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