Former NBA professional Chris Herren visited Brentwood High School this week to share his powerful journey of addiction and recovery with the student body. As part of his "Herren Talks" series, the motivational speaker addressed a packed gymnasium, moving beyond the statistics of substance abuse to focus on the emotional "why" behind early drug and alcohol use. 

Herren, who rose to stardom at Fresno State before playing for the Denver Nuggets and Boston Celtics, saw his athletic career derailed by a decade-long battle with substance use. Now over 17 years sober, he challenged Brentwood students to look inward and evaluate their self-esteem rather than just the physical dangers of drugs. He emphasized that prevention starts by addressing the need to pretend to be someone else to fit in. 

The presentation is one recent example of the district’s ongoing commitment to student wellness and mental health awareness. 

Brentwood High School welcomed former NBA player Chris Herren this week for a moving presentation on resilience and substance use prevention. His raw honesty about his journey from the court to recovery inspired our students to prioritize their mental wellness and support one another.