In acknowledging that the opioid epidemic is one of the most serious threats to young people across the country, the Averill Park Central School District administration, in conjunction with Bethlehem CSD, has invited Chris Herren to share his story of realizing his dream of playing in the NBA only to lose everything to drug addiction.
Herren will make his way to the Capital Region in the spring to share his personal story of being a high school basketball legend in Fall River, Massachusetts, where he scored more than 2,000 career points. Herren went on to play at Boston College and was drafted into the NBA by the Denver Nuggets in 1999 before being traded to his hometown Boston Celtics the following year.
A string of drug abuse, ranging from alcohol and cocaine to oxycontin and heroin, ultimately led to his dream life becoming a nightmare.
Herren has been featured in a documentary on ESPN and published a book titled “Basketball Junkie.” Now sober, he tours the country sharing his story with students, hoping to make a difference before it’s too late.
Herren is scheduled to appear at Averill Park on April 2, 2020.
Averill Park CSD partnered with Bethlehem CSD to help offset the cost of bringing Herren to the two campuses. To assist in APCSD’s portion of the cost, donations are being made by NOpiates, the AP Education Foundation and the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Department.
