Chris Herren

Chris Herren, a former professional basketball player, has built a community around substance use prevention and recovery. He has shown that even the best can falter, and even the most desperate can rise. An author, motivational speaker and wellness advocate, Chris has founded three organizations that provide programs and services with the goal of overcoming setbacks and navigating life’s challenges.

Herren Wellness is a residential substance use, health and wellness organization for men and women based in Massachusetts. Through the process of self-discovery, we guide guests to uncover why they turn to unhealthy behaviors or substances and provide them the tools they need to live a healthy, whole, authentic and substance-free life. Our unique approach to recovery combines holistic strategies with medical and clinical support for the continuity of care for substance use disorder and mental wellness at any stage.

Herren Project is a national nonprofit organization providing free resources and support for the treatment, recovery and prevention of substance use disorder. Treatment and recovery services include treatment placement assistance, long-term recovery support for individuals and families, online support groups, as well as scholarships for treatment programs, recovery housing and recovery coaching.

Herren Talks: since 2009, Chris has spoken to over one million students, athletes and community members, sparking honest discussions on the topics of substance use disorder and wellness. As a person in long term recovery, Chris continues to share his story nationally with a renewed focus on prevention education and challenging audiences to rethink how we look at the disease of addiction; changing the focus from the last day to the first. In 2019, he released The First Day, a film addressing issues that school systems, communities and people across the country are impacted by, directly or indirectly, including substance use and mental wellness.

Herren Project’s prevention and wellness initiatives provide schools and communities resources to prevent the misuse of drugs and alcohol. Herren Project Clubs and Wellness Week promote healthy choices, bringing positive awareness to the disease of addiction and empower individuals to cope with life’s challenges substance-free.

An extraordinary basketball player, Chris Herren was a celebrated star in his native Fall River, MA before graduating high school. He went on to play at Boston College and Fresno State, two seasons in the NBA – including one with his hometown team, the Boston Celtics – and seven seasons overseas before losing it all to the disease of addiction.

With the unwavering support of his family and friends, Chris has been sober since August 1, 2008, and he now shares his story with the goal of making a positive difference in the lives of others.

His recovery journey has been documented in the bestselling memoir, “Basketball Junkie,” the Emmy-nominated ESPN Films documentary, “Unguarded” and in countless local, national and international stories by The New York Times, The Boston Globe and Sports Illustrated, among others. Through Herren Talks, Chris has spoken to over 1 million students and community members, sparking honest discussions about substance use disorder and wellness.