A former college and NBA star came to the Lenape Regional High School District last week, but he did not come with stories of fame, lavish success and the realization of one’s potential. He spoke of the risks of addiction and how just a few decisions can turn a dream into a nightmare.
Once a McDonald’s All-American and standout at Fresno State University, Chris Herren now spends his time touring the country warning athletes, students, parents and whoever will listen about how it easy it can be to lose everything to addiction.
“I can remember coming into auditoriums just like this and listening to someone on stage talk about the risks of drinking and drugs and I said ‘I’ll never be that guy. I’m ranked ninth in the country as a high school player. I’m a McDonald’s All-American, I had a photo shoot for Sports Illustrated as a freshman at Boston College,’” Herren said. “From there, I took one line of cocaine as an 18 year old in my first month at BC, and it took me 14 years to walk away from it.”
Before he played his first game at Boston College, Herren failed a drug test for marijuana and cocaine use. Later during his freshman year, he failed two more drug tests and was kicked off the team and out of the university. He later transferred to Fresno State University, and after failing another drug test and entering a rehabilitation facility, he returned to the team to have a solid collegiate career.
A capacity crowd packed the Performing Arts Center at Cherokee High School on Nov. 18 to listen to Herren present his story. Herren’s extensive visit to the district, which included two presentations at each high school as well as the program open to the public, was made possible through an outpouring of donations, as well as a $29,000 donation from the LRHSD Foundation. His presentations were a part of the district-wide initiative “DEFY the Issue.”
The initiative is a community coalition involving Evesham, Medford, Medford Lakes, Mt. Laurel, Shamong, Southampton, Tabernacle and Woodland to educate families and residents of all ages about the dangers of illegal drug and alcohol use as well as to provide support for young people by empowering them to defy the pressures of drug and alcohol use.
“Defy the Issue, a drug-and alcohol-free campaign, continues to be the focus of student-to-student presentations both within our schools and with the middle schools in the eight townships which we serve,” LRHSD superintendent Carol Birnbohm said. “And while it is impossible to attribute it to one thing, we can say with confidence that the message is being spread effectively throughout our community.”
The percentage of Burlington County middle school students using drugs and alcohol has dropped significantly, according to the results of a county survey.
About 2 percent of county students in grades six, seven and eight had consumed alcohol during the previous 30 days, down from 6 percent when the survey was performed in 2011. Herren was adamant that education regarding drugs must begin early.
“When I ask children in the schools I visit to draw a picture of what a drug addict looks like, they draw pictures of homeless people and prostitutes,” Herren said. “They see addicts on their last day, not their first. They don’t know about day one enough. It all starts with red (plastic) cups.”
Herren’s message was the same to parents who believe it to be OK that their child drinks underage if it is monitored.
“That’s how it started for everybody. Kids don’t start by taking heroin and oxycontin. It starts by drinking beers or smoking blunts in someone’s basement. That’s where addiction begins for everybody,” Herren said. “Not to mention the obvious fact that it’s illegal for children to drink under the age of 21. How do you draw lines for your kids if you make breaking that law OK?”
Even though Herren speaks to thousands of people each month, he knows that his message will go mostly unheard and his warnings unheeded. That is why he keeps his goal for each presentation much smaller.
“I thank God for all of my bad days because it led me to speak to hundreds of thousands of people. I pray each time before I speak to let me make a difference in just one person’s life today. Just one person,” Herren said. “When I receive an email from someone saying after hearing me speak they are seeking help, that email means more than anything I ever accomplished as a basketball player.”
