Chris Herren grew up in Fall River, Massachusetts, a basketball city where making it meant everything. He earned a scholarship to Boston College, starred at Fresno State, and did what every kid in his hometown only dreamed of. He pulled on a Boston Celtics jersey.
What almost no one knew was that he did it as an addict. Cocaine in college gave way to OxyContin and then heroin in the NBA. Chris played some of the biggest games of his life high, chasing his next fix between practices, until addiction cost him his career, his health, and nearly his family.
In 2008, after years of running, Chris got sober, and he has stayed sober every day since. He founded The Herren Project and Herren Wellness, and now travels the country telling the truth about addiction to anyone who will listen.
In this conversation, Chris opens up about growing up in Fall River, the secret he carried through the NBA, the night it all came apart, the moment his wife told him the truth, and what it means that his kids have never seen him high.
This is a conversation about addiction, honesty, family, and the daily work of staying clean.
@c_herren
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Chapters
(00:00) Meet Chris Herren
(01:06) Fall River Roots
(03:35) Basketball Junkie Book
(08:58) How Addiction Began
(13:04) BC to Fresno State
(19:01) NBA Draft Journey
(25:22) Welcome to the NBA
(29:57) Trade to Celtics Dread
(34:55) Shipping the stash
(35:42) FedEx obsession in Dallas
(36:38) Money gone and secrets
(38:58) Dealer in Celtics uniform
(42:33) Cut and Europe calls
(43:28) Bologna withdrawal and heroin
(54:38) Turkey hustle for dope
(56:26) China forced sobriety relapse
(01:02:42) Iran risks and taxi drops
(01:06:49) Train crash to street life
(01:08:49) Rock Bottom Checklist
(01:10:21) Relief After Losing Everything
(01:10:41) Overdoses Before Narcan
(01:13:24) Nurse Intervention to Treatment
(01:13:59) Daytop Program and Relapse
(01:19:30) Recovery Structure That Worked
(01:22:24) Rebuilding Through Coaching
(01:24:10) Speaking and Service Mission
(01:26:25) Holistic Rehab Model
(01:28:28) Funding Scholarships and Donors
(01:31:56) Family Healing and Milestones
(01:34:30) Parenting and Sports Boundaries
(01:43:23) Closing Thanks and Subscribe