“Recovery is possible, and help is available.” That phrase is one that IBX’s “Someone You Know” podcast uses as a tagline, and one that former NBA player, Chris Herren, lives by. But Chris’s NBA career pales in comparison to the work he’s done in his post-basketball life.
On the Independence Blue Cross “Someone You Know” Podcast, Chris discusses how the struggles of trying to overcome a difficult family life and the pressures of basketball, combined with a lack of support and resources for these struggles, led to addiction. But Chris’s struggles are an all-too familiar story in the sports world nowadays.
Notice the wording I used at the end of the previous sentence: sports world. That means not just professional sports, not just college sports, but all sports. Kids, teens, and adults alike struggle with these pressures and many times do not have the resources available to understand how to overcome them. While Chris unfortunately did not find help until later in life, he has used his experience to help those that are in need through The Herren Project. The Herren Project has helped over 5,000 people access the support they need to recover from addictions over the past 10 years, which is a greater accomplishment than anything Chris could have possibly done on the hardwood.
If you have 30 minutes, please give this podcast a listen. Whether you are a parent of an athlete, an athlete yourself, or someone who wants to learn about an issue that affects someone you know, I can promise it will give you a new perspective.
