On Wednesday, October 30, EC’s student athletes heard a talk in the main cafeteria from Christ Herren, a former NBA player who struggled with substance abuse and addiction.
The presentation began with a brief video on Herren’s life, starting with the beginning of his drinking and drug use in high school and how it affected his basketball career from high school, through the Denver Nuggets, Boston Celtics, and professional basketball overseas, and how he began giving speeches at schools and athletic institutions across the country.
Chris Herren himself then spoke to EC’s students, touching on the importance of understanding the ramifications that substance abuse can have on family, the courage it takes to speak up and look for help, and warning against callous disregard of those who share their stories to caution others. He has been speaking for over 15 years and has reached over 2 million students. Despite this, though, he has stressed that what motivates him to continue is the desire to be able to help just one person if they need it.
Chris Herren has started projects and foundations like Herren Wellness and the Herren Project to give aid to those struggling with addiction, and resources are available for those in need at ChrisHerren.com
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