‘A Night With Chris Herren’ Will Share Former NBA Star’s Journey from Addiction to Sobriety

Chris Herren grew up in Fall River, Mass. and went on to play Division 1 basketball and then to shine in the NBA. But overlapping his ascension to highs—and lows—in the athletic world was his journey from addiction to sobriety.

In a free event at The Pavilion at Ole Miss on April 25, Herren will share his story and tackle the themes of gateway drugs, prescription drug use, vaping and the responsibility of prevention starting with us —and field questions from the audience. Intended for Good: The Stonewater Council for Youth and The William Magee Institute for Student Wellbeing present the event, “A Night with Chris Herren,” with help from the generosity of Ole Miss Athletics, Cannon Motors and other valued community partners.

“Intended for Good: The Stonewater Council for Youth was founded with the mission of providing education, resources, and hope to younger generations and their families,” explained Bryan Fikes, the CEO of Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center and Founder of Intended for Good. “I can’t think of a better speaker or more dynamic speaker to host our very first community event.

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David Magee, director of operations at The Magee Institute said, “Helping bring vibrant, vital voices to the community to engage on the topic of substance misuse and prevention is an important part of The Magee Institute’s mission. This free evening with Chris Herren is a must for all students and parents in the region.”

Doors will open at 6 p.m. and the event begins at 6:30 p.m. sharp. Among the anticipated audience will be Ole Miss student-athletes and youths and adults from throughout the region.

Group attendance is encouraged, and groups of 10 or more can sign up to receive a free scoop of ice cream at The Oxford Creamery. For more information or to register your group, visit www.stonewaterrecovery.org/intended-for-good.

Founded in 2023, Intended for Good: The Stonewater Council for Youth is a panel of committee leaders dedicated to helping youth thrive. The council meets on a quarterly basis in an informal manner to discuss challenges in our community and to implement near-term solutions supported in part by the resources of Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center in Oxford, Miss. The stated mission of Intended for Good is simple: “As community leaders, it is our duty and responsibility to support this next generation, and give them the tools they need to take the baton and build a better future — for themselves and all of us.”

The mission of the William Magee Institute for Student Wellbeing at the University of Mississippi is to transform lives—and communities—by supporting students at all levels as they develop resiliency and maximize their potential through holistic well-being. As part of the Magee Institute and operating within the Jackie and Faser Triplett Research Center, The Mayo Lab is committed to using engaging storytelling to share innovative research and empower students — and their families — to find joy.