WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA - With West Virginia leading the nation in drug overdose deaths, community leaders remain dedicated to providing impactful, effective drug education for local students. Next week, former National Basketball Association standout Chris Herren will return to the Ohio Valley for the third time to share the powerful story of his struggle with addiction.
On Thursday, April 9, 2015, Herren will address students in Ohio and Wetzel Counties. First, he will visit Wheeling Park High School to lead a discussion with students from Wheeling Park and The Linsly School. Later, he will visit Magnolia High School in Wetzel County to address students from Magnolia, Paden City, Hundred, and Valley High Schools.
After an explosive debut as an All-American basketball star at Durfee High School in Massachusetts, Herren played at Boston College and Fresno State. Capturing the attention of the NBA, Herren was drafted by the Denver Nuggets. He would also play several seasons for the Boston Celtics. Behind the scenes, alcohol, cocaine, and heroin abuse nearly cost Herren his life.
Leveraging his own experience to educate and inspire young people, Herren tours the country speaking about substance abuse and addiction through his Project Purple program. Project Purple is an initiative of the Herren Project, a non-profit organization founded by Herren to break the stigma of addiction, bring awareness to the dangers of substance abuse, and shed light on effective treatment.
Herren’s presentations on April 9, 2015 are not open to the public. Future public events will be scheduled. Anyone interested in scheduling future events are encouraged to contact the United States Attorney’s Office at (304) 234-0100.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
