By: Elowen Gray
A New Approach to Prevention
For years, substance abuse prevention has focused heavily on warning young people about the dangers of drugs. But author and youth advocate Elizabeth Mago believes prevention must go deeper than awareness campaigns and fear-based messaging.
Her upcoming book, Kick Out Drugs, Kick In Hope: A Youth Story + Guide of Faith, Football, & Life Lessons explores a different question: What if young people are not only searching for information, but also for belonging, identity, mentorship, and hope?
Set for release in October, 2026 through Kadosh Publishers International, the book uses the universal language of football to weave together storytelling, faith, mentorship, and psychosocial resilience into an inspiring resource for young people facing peer pressure, emotional struggles, and substance-use risks.
“What if prevention is more than simply saying no to drugs?” Mago asks. “What if resilience is built through compassion, guidance, and community?”
Turning the Football Field Into a Safe Space
One of the book’s most unique features is its use of football, the world’s most popular sport, as both a teaching metaphor and a mentorship tool. In Mago’s vision, the football field becomes more than a place for competition; it becomes a safe space where young people learn teamwork, discipline, resilience, leadership, self-control, and healthy decision-making.
The idea was inspired by the experiences of youths involved in the initiatives of Kadosh Voice of Glory International, a ministry focused on restoring hope and belonging among vulnerable children and communities.
“The football lessons helped me understand that life also has boundaries and choices,” shared one youth participant connected to the Kadosh programs. “The program taught me that saying no to drugs is not weakness , it is protecting my future and respecting myself.”
Another participant reflected on how the activities changed their understanding of prevention entirely.
“Before joining the program, I thought prevention was only adults warning us about drugs,” the participant said. “Through the football discussions, I learned that belonging, friendship, and support are also part of prevention.”
Why Identity and Belonging Matter
At the heart of Kick Out Drugs, Kick In Hope is the belief that many young people struggling with harmful choices are also struggling with loneliness, rejection, identity confusion, emotional pain, and the need for acceptance.
Rather than approaching prevention as a purely clinical issue, Mago emphasizes the importance of compassionate relationships, faith-rooted mentorship, and supportive communities. Drawing from Ubuntu values of interconnectedness and shared humanity, the book encourages churches, schools, coaches, families, and mentors to work together in creating spaces where young people feel seen, valued, and supported.
The story also presents faith not as rigid instruction, but as a source of courage, healing, and direction during difficult moments.
A Timely Message for Communities
As conversations around youth mental health and substance abuse continue worldwide, Kick Out Drugs, Kick In Hope offers a hopeful and community-centered perspective on prevention.
More than a story about avoiding drugs, the book challenges young people to become positive change agents within their communities while encouraging adults to rethink how they support the next generation.
Its message is simple but powerful: when young people discover identity, purpose, faith, and belonging, they are more likely to choose hope over self-destruction.
To access this upcoming book, visit: https://elizabethmago.com/
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