In a gymnasium usually filled with the sounds of boisterous basketball fans, a respectful silence took hold Thursday evening.

Chris Herren, a former NBA rising star, stood before a hushed crowd to tell his story of drug addiction.

“I think we want to place blame on other friends, social groups, parents who are hosting parties instead of sitting down with a teenager and asking them, ‘Why? Why do you need this?'”

Schuylkill County Drug and Alcohol hosted the event in Martz Hall. Representatives from over 30 organizations from throughout Schuylkill County offered resources and a message of hope to any in attendance who deal with addiction-related issues.