This year’s Talbot Speaker, former basketball star Chris Herren, spoke with students about his very public 14-year struggle with drug and alcohol addiction. In his powerful talk, Mr. Herren urged students to think about the “whys” as well as the consequences of drug and alcohol use during their teenage years. Mr. Herren runs the Herren Project, a nonprofit that assists individuals and families struggling with addiction. One of the nonprofit’s initiatives, Project Purple, aims to create a sober culture within schools.
“Studies show that 90 percent of addictions begin during the teenage years. Most people have a stereotyped image of what an addict looks like—homeless and strung-out. No one has the image of what an addict can look like—young, athletic and full of promise.”