Fmr. NBA Player Reaches Out To Teens About Addiction
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Chris Herren is not a name recognized locally, but his story applies to all because it is a story of how you can become addicted.
Herren played division one basketball and made it to the NBA -- until heroin took over his life.
He made a recent stop on behalf of the Minnesota Timberwolves to talk to high school athletes and parents about what happened – and he had their undivided attention
"I could walk in here and tell you I spent $25,000 a month on Oxys. I could tell you I smoked crack and shot heroin for eight years. I could tell you I have track marks on my arms from sticking a needle in them," Herren said.
His story is not a typical one. Herren's issue became drugs because his real issue was self-esteem.
"When it comes to athletics, it's the missing component. I think we automatically assume that because somebody's good that they feel good," Herren said. "Because they can hit, run or jump, they must, you know, the confidence must be through the roof, and that's not the case. And in my opinion, we have to be better at preparing all kids to feel good about themselves."
He went on to a career in the NBA, but he never mastered the part of his life that would have changed his life – until it was too late.
"I wish I never had to change myself, man. I wish when I was in high school on Fridays and Saturday nights I'd felt good enough just being me," Herren said. "I wish I could hang out with my friends and not have to change who I am (mimics smoking marijuana)."
His message is as much to parents as it is to students; these games we play are great, but the greater good is to push our children to a different direction.
"I think we kind of feel OK if they just blend in and have their social circle," he said.
Drugs and alcohol are everywhere, including around your own children. Of the 15 players on his high school team, seven ended up with heroin addictions.
"The difference between a kid in the suburbs and a kid in the city is the kid in the suburbs has a couple of parachutes," Herren said. "He lands softer when he struggles.
That is why he is on his new life mission to teach kids what he is still learning: it is OK to like yourself.
"If you are exceptional as an athlete at a young age, be exceptional the rest of your life," he said. "And we cannot be exceptional for the rest of our life if we don't feel that way. So we have to prepare these kids to be good in the end."
Herren has been sober for seven years, and he spends his time traveling the country to spread his message.
