The best way to learn something is often to watch someone else perform the same task. After doing something wrong, it is important to learn from that mistake.
Mistakes come in many shapes and forms. In this case, the mistakes were related to drugs and alcohol. Chris Herren, a recovering addict, was a former NBA basketball player. Growing up in Fall River, Massachusetts, Herren was the star basketball player for his high school. He was scouted and played basketball at Boston College and Fresno State University. Herren battled addiction for fourteen years, which extended from alcohol to heroin to cocaine. Every day was a battle and he often wished to be dead after he saw all the damage he caused to his family and everyone around him. In a Bleacher Report interview with Devon Teeple, he said that he “thought honestly that [he] would end up dead or in prison”. In his video, he shared his personal battles with his addiction in order to shed light on the growing problem among teenagers and how he is willing to help today’s youth. His addiction was psychologically demanding.
No one is more fascinated by Herren’s story than General Psychology teacher, Deb Flaherty. She champions his story and shows Herren’s video to her general Psychology classes to compare the effects of nature versus nurture on addiction.
“I showed the video to my class to observe if addiction is a caused by genetic factors or by an environmental influence,” said Flaherty.
Nature versus nurture in relation to addiction remains a huge controversy. Studies have shown on the effects of upbringing and heredity in relation to various addictions. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, subtle variations in DNA sequence called single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), can cause susceptibility to addiction. If a SNP appears more often in individuals with a disease than those without, it is presumed to be located in or near a gene that influences susceptibility to that disease. Environmental influences can include exposure to drugs, stress, lifestyle choices, and exercise. But there are several more factors that can cause addiction.
Both Psychology classes have been working on identifying the underlying causes of addiction. Flaherty says that his story is too compelling not to share. The class also had to watch a film on Herren’s personal story to gain background knowledge on him before to identify if his addiction was influenced genetically or environmentally. Following their better understanding of addiction, Woodland Regional High School’s AP Psychology and general psychology students had the opportunity to venture to Pomperaug High School to hear Herren speak about his story.
The purpose of the presentation was to show students that trying something even just once can be detrimental. Flaherty was awestruck by Herren’s comment in his video that, “the first time [he] tried cocaine, it opened doors that [he] couldn’t close for fifteen years.” His story is very tangible in the minds of the students, which makes him interesting and appealing.
Herren’s story has captivated countless people nationwide. He encourages people to steer clear of any harmful substances and alcohol. He often tells athletes who have immense stress levels to “be a professional at being yourself before you dream of being a professional at anything else.” While Herren knows it is best to learn from your own mistakes, he hopes some teenagers learn through his journey.
