WWE Issues Statement on Substance Abuse

Posted by Marc Middleton on Wednesday, September 1st, 2010

Mere hours after Luna Vachon’s death last Friday, World Wrestling Entertainment issued a statement addressing the many former wrestlers who have passed away as a result of substance abused related issues.

The statement reads:

“Not withstanding our extensive Talent Wellness Program for current Superstars, WWE goes to great lengths to help our former talent who may have substance abuse problems, offering complete drug rehabilitation at no cost to them. Ultimately, however, stars in any form of entertainment should be held personally responsible for their own actions. Prescription drug overdose is a problem not only with former WWE talent, but society as a whole according to the Center for Disease Control, as it is the second leading cause of unintentional death (particularly among younger people) in the U.S.”

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16 Responses to WWE Issues Statement on Substance Abuse:

kill cena
Date: Sep 02, 2010 at 12:43 AM
That statement is really insensitive. A woman just died and they’re more concerned with letting everyone know how great their wellness policy is and how people are responsible for their own actions. These people have no class.
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CC
Date: Sep 02, 2010 at 12:50 AM
Its not insensitive in the least. Its a fact. Just like rock stars who die of drug overdoses. Nobody forces them to do it, its their own choice.
Plus, who is to say it has anything to do with Luna?
Statements like that do not get released by WWE until they have been read by a legal team and then given the green light, which would not take “mere hours”, it’d take days, so this was probably an already planned release.
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J-Dog
Date: Sep 02, 2010 at 3:27 AM
“That statement is really insensitive.” and your name is “kill cena”…You’re a Jackass.
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Neil
Date: Sep 02, 2010 at 3:30 AM
In the case of pain killer abuse it absolutely is WWE’s fault. The schedule WWE talent have to endure is absolutely punishing and it’s no surprise that wrestlers get hooked on the stuff. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure (rehab) – more holidays/downtime, fewer shows.
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venom
Date: Sep 02, 2010 at 3:35 AM
@ J-Dog
very true. I hate to say it but I feel the next wrestlers to die might be Jeff Hardy, Angle and Carlito. They should take care of their drug problems now.
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mabry
Date: Sep 02, 2010 at 3:37 AM
i didnt know about Luna`s death….. this sucks azz, Cade died less than 2 weeks ago and now Luna. Is there info of the reasons of her passing???…..
now about the statement…. i dont think it insensitive either, as CC says, its facts, reality, its the sad way things are. No one puts a gun on this ppl heads to try drugs, they do it on their own. It is sad, i know. WWE does have progrmas to help former star (take Hall as an example), and if they dont change its just their own fault…. man, so many wrestler dying lately, it sad, very sad….. am afraid that at any moment an anouncement comes out for Hall`s death……
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brody
Date: Sep 02, 2010 at 3:44 AM
If, as stated, it takes the legal team days to go over a prepared statement, and if, this statement was released hours after Vachon’s death, then yes, it is insensitive so far as the timing of its release. The statement itself is only fact; but the timing makes it appear to be a covering of the exposed lily-white corporate derriere as a whole, before the media can start taking shots at them again.
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Big T
Date: Sep 02, 2010 at 3:44 AM
This statement probably came in response to someone once again accusing the wrestling industry, WWE primarily, of killing the talent who “sacrifice” for the “evil business.” WWE is not responsible for the death of all of these former wrestlers.
@ “kill cena,” you are a moron!
The bottom line is that wrestlers choose their occupation, and knowingly put themselves in harms way. They are no different than coal miners, fisherman, oil riggers, and (in a way)even soldiers. They choose a career and take a physical risk because they want to and/or there is a chance they can make good money.
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He Got a BACYCLE
Date: Sep 02, 2010 at 8:26 AM
Good point j dog. They’re 2 reasons wwe released this. 1. Of course linda’s campaign. And 2. Wwe gets blasted in the media for all of these deaths, right or wrong. Imo they offer more than enough to help the stars who have fallen. The painkiller epedemic is truly depressing. Some ppl need to wake up and realize wat they are doing to themselves…
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Paton
Date: Sep 02, 2010 at 8:28 AM
unless WWE tells them to do it then they are totally justified in what they are saying
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MARK
Date: Sep 02, 2010 at 9:45 AM
I don’t think WWE was trying to be insensitive. I think they are just trying to reach out to other former WWE Superstars by reemphasizing their wellness policy. I’m sure they don’t take any pleasure in knowing that former employees are struggling with addiction long after they’ve left the company. And I agree with everyone else, kill cena is a friggin’ idiot.
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cenaWWE
Date: Sep 02, 2010 at 9:45 AM
Paton, i agree!
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Mark
Date: Sep 02, 2010 at 9:53 AM
Im not the Mark above , WWE has to accept some responsibility for some of the drugs that are in wrestling, prescription or otherwise. Their schedule is really punishing . Also this wellness policy should have been introduced years ago. Wrestlers need more protection and help .
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JLo69
Date: Sep 02, 2010 at 11:25 AM
@ Mark “I’m not the Mark above”…u liberal douche, even though WWE’s marketing to the Tween/teen crowd the “entertainers” (VKM will send the Mean Street Posie after me if I call them wrestlers) are grown men and women that no right from wrong. They know what they are doing to their bodies. “Big brother” doesn’t need to tell them right from wrong. Your probably the same reason I have to wear my dang seat belt cuz “someone” tells me too. I personally like to have the opportunity to make “grown up” choices since I’m 40. I am now stepping off my soap box. Peace!!
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JLo69
Date: Sep 02, 2010 at 11:26 AM
that was know not no right from wrong….
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erik
Date: Sep 02, 2010 at 6:10 PM
I would say that it judt sucks all of wrestlers i watch as kid growing up are dropping like flys. bigelow, luna, bulldog, yokozuna earthquake, bossman texas tornado etc I guess imo the 300 days a year on road is tough more people get injury. mero is right in 2007 after wwe superbowl and wrestle next night un heard of. maybe vince should cut road life down to 180 days less injuries.imo
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