A former NBA player is continuing to bring awareness to teen substance misuse through a new documentary.
Chris Herren is a former NBA basketball player who founded several nonprofit organizations and now works as a motivational speaker. After playing at Boston College and transferring to Fresno State, he was drafted by the Denver Nuggets and later played for the Boston Celtics. Throughout his basketball career in college and the NBA, however, he experienced the effects ofsubstance misusefirsthand.
In 2011, Herren was the subject of “Unguarded,” an ESPN documentary by Jonathan Hock. The documentary showed the truth of Herren’s struggles with substance misuse during his basketball career. Now,the two have teamed up againto create “The First Day,” which looks at mental health problems, teen substance misuse and harmful behaviors among young people.
Chris Herren’s Addiction Journey
When Herren was playing for the Celtics, he started usingprescription painkillerssuch as Oxycontin, Percocet and Vicodin. In 2004, he overdosed on heroin and crashed into a utility pole. Responders said he was dead for thirty seconds. In 2007, he was charged with possession of heroin in Rhode Island.
Herren has been substance-free since completing an intensive rehab program in August 2008. After, he wrote the book “Basketball Junkie: A Memoir with Providence Journal” with columnist Bill Reynolds. In 2011, ESPN Documentaries aired “Unguarded,”which was nominated for two Emmys.
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Now, Herren travels the country and speaks to young people. He founded the Herren Project, a nonprofit group with the goal of helping young people to make healthy choices. He also founded a residential health and wellness program in 2018.
Herren has spoken to more than a million students, athletes and community members around the country aboutteen addiction. Herren’s story about addiction and recovery has been life-changing for many people, but teens still struggle with substance misuse.
Substance Abuse in Sports
Research shows thatnine out of 10 peoplewith a substance use disorder started using drugs by the time they were 18 years old. More thanhalf started using drugs before they were 15. Research shows drug misuse occurs in all sports and at all levels, including high school sports. Athletesmay begin misusing substancesto enhance performance, deal with the pressure to perform and relieve physical pain and injuries.
Teen Drug Awareness Is Critical
Recovery speakers and advocates for drug awareness feel it’s essential to create effective drug prevention programs for youth.“The First Day” is billed as a new approach to teen drug prevention education. Instead of focusing on what happens in the later stages of addiction, the film focuses on why young people often turn to substances.
According to Herren, parents, educators and members of the community rarely focus on early prevention. Herren’s hope is that his films and his work are helping start a powerful conversation that highlights why teen substance misusehappens in the first place.
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