Approaching 14 years in Sobriety: Chris Herren, on his addiction recovery journey

Chris Herren is a former NBA basketball player, a voice on the topic of substance use prevention and a wellness advocate.

Chris was himself addicted to alcohol and heroin for much of his basketball career, but through many steps, Chris has been sober since August 1, 2008.

Since 2009, Chris has spoken to over one million students, athletes and community members. He has shown us that even the best can falter, and even the most desperate can rise. Chris has founded three organizations that provide programs and services with the goal of overcoming setbacks and navigating life’s challenges.

Chris is also known for the 2011 ESPN film “Unguarded” and the 2018 film “The First Day:A Substance Use Prevention Education Film”. __

In this interview, we talk about:

- Chris’s childhood and growing up with an alcoholic father

- Chris’s advice to kids and adults on drug use

- Chris’s basketball journey - being a McDonald’s All-American and NBA player

- Chris’s advice on the sobriety and addiction recovery journey

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Chris's socials:

Chris's Twitter: https://twitter.com/HerrenTalks

Chris's Website: https://chrisherren.com/

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Grateful Living Info:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9Bo0LHtRJJNJBUYIceg27w

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Hn4ttttmbWfVqAhWh4Jhi

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1503185956

My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aroy81547/?hl=en

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/gratefulliving4

Medium: https://gratefulliving4.medium.com/

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Time Stamps:

0:00 Intro (could edit)

0:55 Chris’s childhood into his college years

4:37 Any advice to kids who have an alcoholic parent?

7:33 What advice would you give to a parent who is an alcoholic?

10:42 Any advice to kids who are going through a divorce?

14:05 Advice to a highly touted basketball player whose feeling a lot of pressure?

17:22 What are your thoughts on drug consumptions?

20:33 What would you say to kids who say it would be hard to reject kids?

23:00 How does your son reject alcohol?

26:01 What questions should parents ask if they catch their kids using drugs?

29:15 When do you think your real addiction began?

33:16 When did you lose the love of basketball?

35:17 You said playing in Denver was the healthiest point of your life up to that point, how do you look at that now sober for 14 years?

38:30 What advice to give you to people trying to get to their sobriety day?

44:15 How honest were you with your kids about your sobriety journey?

47:21 Any advice to someone whose a year or so sober?

49:42 Have you gotten close to breaking your sobriety?

51:35 Can you talk about Heather, your wife and her impact on your life?

53:37 What’s the impact of Mrs. Reed on your life?

54:22 What’s the impact of the Mullens on your life?

57:24 Any advice for re-integrating to society after rehab?

59:40 Was there a point where you realized speaking about substance use was your purpose?

1:01:52 What’s the best way to support you?