“The first page of every drug addict’s story is the red Solo cup.”
Chris Herren, former Celtics point guard, spoke of the horrors of addiction to the students of Old Rochester Regional High School on Monday, September 21.
Herren attended Durfee High School in Fall River as a teen, and later went on to play professional basketball in the NBA, as well as a number of international leagues. Herren is infamous for his substance abuse, which eventually ruined his basketball career.
After being in and out of rehabilitation centers, Herren finally became sober and has remained so for about seven years. Now, as a father and husband, Herren travels around the country telling teens and adults alike of his battle against drug addiction through his foundation, “The Herren Project.”
Both students and teachers flooded into the gymnasium Monday morning, awaiting Herren’s appearance. The presentation began with a video explaining Herren’s beginnings at Durfee and his successful career in basketball. The video, titled Unguarded, first aired on ESPN in 2011 as a documentary and describes Herren’s battle with substance abuse from his first interaction with drugs and alcohol to his recovery. After the video, Herren entered the gymnasium and began to speak to the students and staff of Old Rochester Regional.
Herren talked about his high school career and his first interaction with alcohol. He explained how his experimentation with “harmless” drugs quickly escalated into a seemingly untamable addiction to heroin. Most of Herren’s presentation, however, revolved around the reason why high school age students try drugs and alcohol in the first place.
Herren spoke of how using any type of substance is a sign that something is not right in your life. One shouldn’t have to alter themselves in order to be with their friends.
“How come being is not enough?” asked Herren, as he explained how it takes courage to be yourself, without the influence of drugs and alcohol to feel better. At the conclusion of his presentation, Herren opened the floor to questions.
It only took one brave staff member to ask the first question before hands from every grade were raised. Questions varied from how to help a friend with an addiction to how to grieve the loss of a loved one due to drugs or alcohol. There was no stereotypical giggling that comes when someone asks an honest question – only quiet respect for those who wanted answers from a firsthand perspective that only Herren could offer. The sheer amount of hands raised demonstrated the importance of the presentation to the Old Rochester community.
After his presentation, Herren went to Old Rochester Regional Junior High to speak to the 7th and 8th grade members of the Tri-Town community about drugs, alcohol, and self-esteem.
By Sienna Wurl
