Coach Marshall’s Crusade Against Heroin and Drug Addiction
Video: KRCG news story about Westminster College Coach Jim Marshall and his presentation to William Woods students on drug addiction on March 19, 2014.
In 2011, Westminster College Track & Field coach Jim Marshall lost his son Cody at age 20 to a heroin overdose. Since then, Coach Marshall has been on a crusade to bring better drug education to students and to parents. Coach Marshall speaks year-round at schools and organizations telling Cody’s story and bringing awareness to the “invisible epidemic” of heroin addiction.
“My crusade against our drug abuse epidemic is threefold; it’s my way of showing kids you can learn to cope with grief by taking a negative and turning it into a positive by helping others,” said Coach Marshall. “It’s also a campaign to raise the level of knowledge of our youth about this problem, how it starts, why its happening, and how to get help. I want our youth to make better choices. Knowledge is power, the more we have, the better choices we make. Last, I want to put a face on this epidemic, so we can push back all the incorrect stereotypes on addiction and who it happens to.”