Burrell High School Students Hear Stark addiction Recovery Story from Former NBA Player Chris Herren
Burrell High School students received a powerful message about the dangers of substance abuse and the importance of seeking help from Chris herren, a former NBA player who openly shared his journey from professional basketball to addiction and recovery. Herren spoke to students on Tuesday,recounting his personal struggles with alcohol and opioids,and emphasizing the need for honesty and support.
HerrenS visit, organized by Burrell physical education teacher Justin Miller and Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli, aimed to proactively address the growing challenges students face, including social media pressures and negative influences. The presentation was funded through drug forfeiture money, Ziccarelli explained. Herren founded Herren Wellness, a residential drug rehabilitation and treatment center, after achieving sobriety.
“I pray it’s for no one, but the chances are, it’s for a few of you,” Herren told the students, hoping his story would resonate with anyone contemplating unhealthy choices. “If I can get one kid in this auditorium … to say to themselves, ’Honestly, I need to be better. I don’t like the kid I’m pretending to be now; there’s things I want to change.'”
the impact of Herren’s message was evident among the student body. Julian Bertucci, a Burrell senior and athlete planning to wrestle in college, said the presentation was particularly moving. “It touched my heart a little bit,” Bertucci said. “Seeing someone so triumphant fall because of this and addiction…it opened my eyes: I’m really lucky to have what I have right now.”
Herren has spent the past 15 years speaking to over 2 million people,including professional sports teams,members of the military,and high school students,about the realities of addiction. he acknowledged his story may not universally resonate, but hopes it can serve as a catalyst for positive change in the lives of those who need it most.
Miller encouraged students to build stronger connections with their peers and offer support, recognizing the increasing struggles young people face. Ziccarelli reinforced the focus on prevention,stating,”We don’t want to see you on the flip side,so we try to do as much as we possibly can to get out ahead of things and educate you as much as we can.”
