“One Little Blue Pill” one phrase repeated over and over by ESPN’s 30 for 30 Star and former Boston Celtic that captured an audience’s attention at The University of Houston. One little blue pill was reiterated time and time again to illustrate how something so small can be the cornerstone of one man’s addiction. Chris Herren spoke his truth and laid it all out there for hundreds of University of Houston students, athletes, and the Houston recovery community as he has done time and time again to spread addiction awareness across the country.The Last Resort Recovery Center was honored to co-host and sponsor REBOUND The Chris Herren Story on October 29, 2015. Herren tells how he nearly lost everything and everyone he loved, and how he found a way back to life. A high school basketball legend from Fall River, Massachusetts, Herren was named to the 1994 McDonald’s All-American team and went on to play for the Denver Nuggets and the Boston Celtics. Over the span of about 10 years, Herren’s drug use resulted in professional setbacks, legal problems and a near-fatal heroin overdose. His harrowing story of drug abuse and recovery is documented in his memoir,Basketball Junkie, as well as the Emmy-nominated ESPN Films documentary Unguarded.
The one moment that still resonates with me a week later is when Chris describeshow people know he is sober today. Chris said, “If you want to see if I’m sober today don’t look into my eyes but go look into my children’s eyes instead. They will tell you if their dad is sober today”. Even though this was my second time to watch Chris Herren tell his story, I was still moved and motivated to spread a message of hope like Chris did that night, and how he does almost every week of the year.–Austin Travis BerryRegional MarketerThe Last Resort Recovery Center
