WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA - As the opioid epidemic continues to ravage West Virginia communities and families, United States Attorney Bill Powell and community leaders remain steadfast in their commitment to educate students in the Northern District of West Virginia about the dangerous and deadly consequences of addiction. Next week, former National Basketball Association standout Chris Herren will return to the Ohio Valley to share his powerful story of his struggle with addiction.
On Tuesday, December 5, 2017, Herren will address students in Ohio and Wetzel Counties. First, he will visit Triadelphia Middle School to lead a discussion with students from sixth, seventh and eighth grades. Later, he will visit New Martinsville School in Wetzel County to address middle school students.
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 December 5, 2017 are not open to the public. For more information on Project Purple, go to thpprojectpurple.org.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
