WWE Drug Enforcement and Treatment Programs Upgraded: Heat From Congress Improves WWE Record

World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has taken some remarkable steps forward in the effort to discourage it's professional wrestlers from using drugs and alcohol; it's about time, and we have pressure from Congress to thank for the improvements.

In recent weeks, WWE sent the following letter out to all of it's former employees:

Over the last ten years, an inordinate number of wrestlers have passed away. Some of those deaths may in part have been caused by drugs and alcohol.

In an effort to prevent such tragedies in the future, the WWE is willing to pay for drug and/or alcohol rehabilitation at a certified treatment chosen by WWE for any performer with a prior WWE booking contract who may need this service. The WWE will pay for this service in full.

There is no cost to you or your family. Help will be provided regardless of the circumstances of your departure from the WWF or the amount of time you performed for the WWE.

If you do not have a drug and/or alcohol problem, but know you know a former WWE performer who does, we are asking you to try to help them by encouraging them to take advantage of this opportunity.

Liz (last name deleted) has been appointed as a representative in this matter. Liz has been with the company for over 24 years and has been directly involved with the majority of WWE performers who have received treatment for substance abuse. She understands emotions that individuals and family members go through in this process. Any conversation you have with Liz will remain confidential and will not be released to the public.

In many instances, an individual in need of help is in denial and will not want rehabilitation. There are professional intervention companies that will help persuade that person that they need treatment. Liz will be able to facilitate such interventions, should they be necessary. An intervention and treatment will be at the cost of WWE exclusively.

This service is being provided for performers with a prior WWE booking contract only. No family or friends. Please reach out to Liz if you think you might have a drug or alcohol problem or if you know someone who does. We all need to do anything we can to help prevent another tragedy.

Sincerely,
Vincent K. McMahon
Chairman, World Wrestling Entertainment

Four former WWF/WWE wrestlers have taken Vince McMahon up on his offer so far. This is very good news and I'm glad that WWE is responding to a dire need of it's athletes--both past and present. It may be too late to save all of them, but it's not too late to save some of them. The damage that these wrestlers have done to their bodies may not become evident for a while--and that's what's so heartbreaking about the loss of some of these wrestlers.

Some, such as the late Eddie Guerrero and Road Warrior Hawk, had already gone through rehab and had walked away from drugs. Both died young; Eddie at 38, Hawk at 46, and years after they had stopped taking drugs and turned their lives around. Hawk found Christ for the first time in his life in the last four years of his life.

In addition to the free drug/alcohol rehab, the WWE has stepped up it's Wellness Program--the details of which were sent to Congress at their request. WWE has suspended several of it's main event talents due to failed drug tests. Some are now on their 2nd strike with one to go before having their contracts terminated by WWE.

I think that if it weren't for Congress taking an interest, however limited, this small turnaround in WWE policy might not have come or would have been delayed for years, as it already has been. I hope many former WWE wrestlers are considering this offer to get help if they're in trouble.

Drugs eventually strip away a person's sense of wellness and control, and all that is left is addiction, pain, conflict, and in some cases (more so in professional wrestling), death.

This is a minor victory in the overall battle against substance abuse in sports, but a victory nonetheless.