By Independent Press 
on April 03, 2014 at 11:46 AM, updated April 03, 2014 at 11:54 AM

Chris Herren is a former college basketball star who played in the National Basketball Association with the Boston Celtics in 2000 – 2001, but whose path to stardom was blocked by years of substance abuse.

Herren will share his story of addiction and his eventual road to recovery on Thursday, April 24, at 7 p.m. in a Stand Up Against Substance Abuse event at the Mt. Olive Performing Arts Center, 18 Corey Road, Flanders.

The event is being sponsored by the Morris County Department of Human Services, the Municipal Alliances of Morris County, the Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse and the Community Coalition for a Safe and Healthy Morris, an initiative of Morris County Prevention is Key.

Herren’s powerful presentation is free and open to students, parents and all members of the community. Registration is recommended athttps://www.eventbrite.com/e/former-nba-player-chris-herren-to-share-his-story-of-addiction-recovery-registration-10622776009.

Herren struggled with substance abuse for much of his basketball career, but has been drug-free and alcohol-free since August 1, 2008, attending meetings daily to support his substance free lifestyle and speaking before groups trying to overcome addiction to share his experiences and road to sobriety.

In May 2011 his memoir, ”Basketball Junkie,” was released, followed by the Emmy nominated ESPN Films documentary, ”UnGuarded.”

Herren is the founder of the Herren Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing treatment navigation, educational and mentoring programs to those touched by addiction and to educate people of all ages on the dangers of substance abuse. In 2012, the Herren Project launched a national anti-substance abuse campaign, Project Purple, to encourage people of all ages to stand up to substance abuse.