A documentary detailing Cousins' drug abuse and rehabilitation will be aired on Channel 7 in the next six weeks and although he hasn't seen it yet, Hardwick endorsed its telecast.
"From what I've heard, it in no way glorifies it (drug use). This is a guy who has come back from the brink," Hardwick said.
"Without AFL football and without the Richmond footy club, there is a fair chance that Ben wouldn’t have made it.
"So I think the program in no way glorifies drug use, I think it is an enormous educational tool for parents to sit down with their kids with the classification in mind and say, 'Listen, this is what happens.'
"Ben has been very lucky but there are a lot of people who aren't."
The Tigers have come out in strong support of the documentary which has been advertised as a warts-and-all account of Cousins’ battle.
“Drugs nearly killed this kid and it is a great opportunity for people to sit down, have a really good look at it and understand it,” Hardwick said.
“It is very confronting by all accounts and it is an enormous opportunity for people to have a look at it and say listen this is what happens when you take drugs. Ben’s come out of the other side, a lot of people don’t. It’s a great story and one that I think is worth everyone having a look at.”
Irish rookie Jamie O’Reilly will take his place alongside Cousins in this week’s game against Carlton.
O’Reilly’s debut has been fast-tracked after impressive performances for VFL side Coburg.
Hardwick said he had surpassed all expectations Richmond had set for him.
“He’s got exceptional speed, he’s got a good kick for an Irishman. But we think he’s going to be a very good player,” he said.
“If you were to ask me at the start of the year whether he’d be playing senior AFL footy I would have thought you were kidding yourself, but he works as hard as anyone on our list.
"To his credit that is why he is getting a game. His improvement has been astronomical.”
