By Bob MakinOriginal Source: mycentraljersey.com

Drug and alcohol addiction cost Chris Herren his dream job of playing basketball as a hometown hero for the Boston Celtics and nearly destroyed his family.

The son of an alcoholic, Herren had been drinking and drugging since the days when he was a 1994 McDonald’s All-American on the Fall River, Mass., high school basketball team, he shared Jan. 10 during a near-capacity assembly at Watchung Hills Regional High School in Warren.

Despite being a star player bound for college glory, Herren said that a lack of self-esteem and self-worth drove him to drink and do drugs.

His message to keep others from doing the same and awaken parents and school and civic authorities to the reasons why addiction needs to be addressed as a disease, such as...click here to continue reading