Newtown High School, Newtown Parent Connection, Newtown Prevention Council, and the Newtown Board of Realtors invite the public to hear former NBA player Chris Herren speak about his struggle with substance abuse and his road to recovery on Thursday, April 7, at 7 pm. This presentation is intended for parents and their children (11 years and older), friends and neighbors, and will be held at Newtown High School, 12 Berkshire Road. 

Intensive, long-term substance abuse treatment for his drug addiction is what placed Mr Herren on the road to recovery, and he will share his compelling story with the community with the hope of reaching just one person and making a difference in his or her life.

Recruited by the top Division I programs, Mr Herren started his professional basketball career at Boston College. After injuries and failed drug tests, he left Boston College and was picked up by Fresno State.

Drafted in the second round of the 1999 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets, Mr Herren played one year before being traded to the Boston Celtics in 2000.

He struggled with substance abuse for much of his career. Alcohol- and drug-free since August 1, 2008, he has refocused his life to put his sobriety and family above all else.

“Addiction is an illness and there are plenty of people who are sick. I think it is important to get the message out about recovery because recovery is the key to restoring lives,” said Mr Herren, whose story is chronicled in the ESPN documentary Unguarded and in his memoir: Basketball Junkie.

“Taking it one day at a time has kept me sober,” he said. “I’ve had many law enforcement officers say to me that in the past, they had little empathy for addicts, but after hearing my story, they began seeing it as an illness that requires medical treatment.”

After spending 11 months receiving in-patient care to treat his addiction, Mr Herren developed numerous programs and speaks to ensure that others — particularly young adults — have the same chance for recovery.

Newtown Parent Connection, Inc, was founded in 2003 by a team of concerned parents who recognized the growing problem of substance abuse and addiction in Newtown and surrounding areas. The organization is committed to its mission to educate and empower the community in the prevention of substance abuse and to embrace families in crisis.

For the past 12 years Newtown Parent Connection has provided educational forums and ongoing individual and group support for families struggling with issues involving substance use and addiction. To obtain more information about Newtown Parent Connection’s programs designed to strengthen the resiliency of families and communities, visit newtownparentconnection.org.

The Newton Prevention Council, founded in 1986, is a coalition of community members whose mission is to create a culture in Newtown that positively engages and supports the community to empower youth and families to make healthy, thoughtful decisions and to support healthy and substance free living.