NEW YORK, Dec. 23, 2015 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- NFL All Star and All American Keith McCants, a top Linebacker who was the No. 1 pick in the  NFL Draft, was moved to tears after watching a pre screening of Concussion, the upcoming Sony film release starring Will Smith in the role of Dr. Bennet Omalu, the doctor who discovered chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).In a recent op-ed for the New York Times, Omalu urged parents to not let their children play football due to the risks of developing. 

According to the US Center for Disease Control, an estimated 1.7 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury annually with 75% per cent of the cases attributed to concussions.

Kimberly Cramer, a therapist at RWC, shares, "We know the symptoms of CTE and its effect on people in general. The symptoms include confusion, headaches, impaired judgment and lack of impulse control. Many athletes with CTE have developed drug and alcohol abuse issues as a way to cope with the symptoms." In a recent feature with Sports Ilustrated, McCants shared that if  he had known what he knows now about the effects of concussions, he would have never put on a helmet.

While watching Concussion ,McCants recalled his time with the NFL and looked back on where is he now. McCants is a public speaker and mentor for Reawakenings Wellness Center (RWC), an addiction rehabilitation facility in South Florida. Partnered with  Reawakenings and its executive advisor, Farid Dallal, McCants mentors RWC residents suffering from various forms of addictions with a message of hope.  In addition to his  work as a mentor, McCants continues to seek counseling for his PTSD at Reawakenings Wellness Center.

"The movie, Concussion, is a wakeup call and I believe will be educational to society as a whole. When you can take a person and deal with them where they are in their lives and not judge them but help them, that is the essence of public outreach. My goal is to help people. I sell hope one day at a time," says McCants, NFL All Star and All American.

"I want to thank Sony Pictures for getting behind the story out about Dr. Omalu through the new film, Concussion. It is my belief that this film will be beneficial to educating society about the risks of concussions. We are united in support of saving lives. I want to thank Keith McCants for his commitment to Reawakenings. We are all here to help each other on the planet. With Reawakenings Wellness Center, we create a home away from home for people who need help in battling any addiction that confronts them," says Farid Dallal, Executive Advisor at Reawakenings Wellness Center.

About Reawakenings Wellness Center

Reawakenings Wellness Center is a holistic addiction treatment facility near Fort Lauderdale in Florida. Reawakenings Wellness Center focuses on providing comprehensive treatment programs for those who suffer from addiction issues with drugs and alcohol as well as treatment for concussions. Reawakenings' state-of-the-art treatment facility is located away from the distractions of an urban lifestyle to assist patients in committing fully to their recovery and overall wellness. Reawakenings is proud to be one of the six percent of the nation's behavioral health treatment programs that have earned accreditation by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).  Reawakenings' Medical Director, Dr. Raul Rodriguez, is a double board certified psychiatrist on board to support clients in their road to recovery.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, don't hesitate to call us at (855) 925-3669. Hope is not lost and recovery is possible. Arise out of addiction. Call Reawakenings today.

www.reawakeningwellness.com

See link, McCants/ Sports Illustrated: http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2015/12/09/nfl-retired-players-watch-react-to-concussion-movie-will-smith

Media, Communications and Marketing Executive Contacts:
Jaime Blanke 
Marketing Consultant for RWC
Email Contact

Christina Halper Gorini
Director of Public Relations for RWC
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Belinda Foster
Publicist for Keith McCants
Director of Communications and Consultant for RWC
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Media Contact: Christina Gorini, Reawakening Wellness Center, (855) 925-3669, Email Contact

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SOURCE Reawakenings Wellness Center