Old Rochester welcomed former Celtic Chris Herren for substance abuse presentation

MATTAPOISETT — Former Celtics player Chris Herren let students at Old Rochester Regional High School try on his shoes as he shared his perspective about a promising basketball career derailed by substance abuse and his subsequent journey to sobriety.

Herren presented his film "The First Day" during a 75-minute assembly held on Monday, April 13, in the Old Rochester Regional High School auditorium. 

After screening the film, which highlights his story as a basketball star and his fight for a substance-free life, Herren discussed how various experiences during his teenage years impacted him. 

He encouraged listeners to rethink how they view the scourge of addiction.

Herren, who in 2011 founded the nonprofit Herren Project, also touched on related topics, such as drinking, smoking marijuana, vaping, pill use, peer pressure, bullying and self-harm. 

Herren then fielded questions from students in the audience to conclude the event.

Students were informed that if they wish to connect with Herren's student outreach team to form a Herren Project Club, which is a student group that's focused on empowering youth to make healthy choices, they can visit herrenproject.org/student-resources or email prevention@herrenproject.org.

This event was funded by the office of the Public Health Nurse for the Town of Rochester.