Former NBA Player to Speak About Dangers of Drugs

Thanks to both the and the Ocean City Education Foundation, Ocean City School District students in grades 7 to 12 will attend an April 27 assembly warning them of the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse. Members of the community are invited to hear the presentation 7 p.m. Thursday, April 26, in the gymnasium.

Chris Herren, a basketball legend from Massachusetts, realized his dreams by playing for the Boston Celtics, only to lose it all to addiction before rising again with a new dream. Herren had what seemed, on the outside, to be a dream basketball career, which included being named a high school basketball player of the year and being drafted into the NBA after playing NCAA basketball at a top Division 1 college.

But Herren’s basketball success concealed a darker side, and his dream soon became a nightmare of addiction — first to alcohol, then cocaine and finally heroin.

After extensive rehabilitation stays, Herren has been drug-free since June 2008 and alcohol-free since August 2008. Since the summer of 2009, Herren has trained more than 200 basketball players including some of the top basketball prospects in New England. Off the court, he continues to share his story of abuse with audiences in hopes of reaching just one person and making a difference in their life.

His memoir, Basketball Junkie, was released in May 2011; in November 2011 a documentary based on his journey, Unguarded, aired as part of ESPN’s 30 for 30 series. Herren was recently featured on CNN.

The Thursday evening presentation by Herren is free and open to the public. Seats are available on a first-come first-served basis. Gymnasium doors will open at 5:30 on the evening of the event. A live feed of the presentation will be available at the and the at the high school. Visit www.ocnjef.com for more information.

This event is being made available to the students and public thanks to the following sponsors: the Ocean City Public Library, Jay and Michele Gillian, the Ocean City PTA, The Ocean City Police Department and the Ocean City Fire Department.

The Ocean City Education Foundation (OCEF) is an independent community service organization, formed exclusively for charitable, cultural and educational purposes dedicated to encouraging community-wide participation and philanthropy in order to enhance and expand enrichment opportunities for all students in the Ocean City School District and the community at large.

The OCEF mission is to identify and implement strategies and activities designed to support, enhance, expand and develop educational opportunities and programs for students attending Ocean City Public Schools.

— News release from the Ocean City Education Foundation