at William George Agency’s Special Event on Addiction and Recovery
For Immediate Release
Freeville, NY (April 22, 2026): The William George Agency for Children’s Services (WGA), a provider of out-of-home treatment services to at-risk youth, hosted a special event Wednesday featuring former NBA player and motivational speaker Chris Herren. Mr. Herren was invited to share his personal story of addiction and journey to sobriety with residents aged 12 to 18+. The event was organized by WGA’s Outpatient Substance Treatment Program during Alcohol Awareness Month and supported with funds from an anonymous donor and the Jim Gilmore Jr. Foundation.
Herren is an All-American basketball legend from Fall River, MA, who broke scoring records and was recruited into the NBA before losing his career to addiction and almost losing his family. His address focused on wellness, education about the disease of addiction, and how to maintain long-term sobriety.
Addiction remains a major public health challenge, affecting millions of individuals and families across the United States. Recent national data show that more than 47.7 million Americans aged 12 and older are current illegal drug users, and over 1 million people have died from drug overdoses since 1999. Nearly 1 in 10 Americans over the age of 12 has Alcohol Use Disorder. In New York, about 1 in 6 adolescents report using an illicit substance each year, and roughly 9% are current alcohol users, according to data on the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) website. Since New York legalized marijuana in 2021, there’s been an uptick in cannabis use by youth under the age of 21.
“Heavy marijuana and e-cigarette use are the most common issues teens are addressing on our campus,” says Justin Herbel, Director of the Substance Treatment Program at WGA. “Both are easy to come by in the community, and marketing attracts the demographic. Marijuana now comes in edible forms. Vaping has an array of flavors. What’s most alarming is the potency. Greater potency leads to faster delivery and stronger addiction impulses. Kids don’t realize that a choice made in one moment can lead to a life spiraling out of control.”
The Van Clef Substance Treatment Program was established in 2000, making the William George Agency one of only three private residential agencies in New York at the time to open an OASAS-licensed outpatient clinic for residential clients. Eleven years later, WGA created a Youth Centered Recovery residential program designed for youth dually diagnosed with alcohol and/or substance dependence and a co-occurring mental health disorder. In 2018, Van Clef was recognized as a Limited Service Laboratory, enabling it to test for drugs of abuse, including breath alcohol testing. In 2019, Van Clef became a licensed Opioid Overdose Prevention Program, and its staff is certified to train clients and other WGA staff on how to respond to an opioid overdose.
“Teens who develop substance use disorders are more likely to experience multiple overlapping risk factors, rather than a single cause, and they’re less likely to be aware of the long-term consequences of their drug misuse,” says Herbel. “Risk factors can include early exposure, genetics, peer influence, family or community environment, mental health challenges, and the potency of the substance.”
Van Clef provides individual and group counseling for youth residing on campus for WGA’s core residential programs. More than sixty percent of youth receive Van Clef’s services for personal addiction or substance use issues in their family.
“We are grateful for the donations that made this important presentation to youth possible. Addiction is a health condition. As Mr. Herren conveyed today, recovery is possible with perseverance and the right support,” says Helen Hulings, Executive Director of WGA. “Making healthy decisions and seeking help when needed is not a weakness. Building strong, positive connections with friends, family, coaches, or mentors helps create a support system that makes it easier to cope with stress and resist peer pressure.”
“It’s a roller coaster that many people want to get off but don’t know where to begin,” says Herbel. “There are many resources available. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration offers free, 24/7 information on its website or by calling the national hotline 1-800-662-HELP (4357). For local New York resources, you can start by looking at the Office of Addiction Services and Supports website.”
About The William George Agency
The William George Agency (WGA) provides holistic, trauma-informed services for New York’s adolescents and young adults, who have engaged in self-harming or high-risk behaviors that have impacted their welfare or the welfare of others around them. One of the largest employers in Tompkins County, WGA offers several out-of-home programs on one Freeville, NY campus; programs support individual physical, emotional, social, and educational needs to help youth heal from traumatic events such as community violence, abuse or neglect, substance use issues, and sexual abuse or exploitation. Counseling encourages attitudes, social skills, perspective, and self-direction essential for youth to reach their potential, engage constructively with their community, and cope more effectively with life’s challenges. WGA is a private, non-profit organization founded in 1895 as the George Junior Republic. The Republic was a unique, widely-celebrated system of youth self-government that ended in the late twentieth century. Gifts to support WGA’s work are gratefully accepted. Visit www.wgaforchildren.org for more information.
Relevant Data Sources:
National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics
New York State Office of Addiction Services and Support
NY Post Article: Cannabis Poisoning Among Teens Skyrockets Since NY Legalization (11.15.25) and Legal Marijuana in New York State: Promises, Reality, and The Path Forward Impact Report (Nov. 2025)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
MEDIA CONTACT FOR THE WILLIAM GEORGE AGENCY
Tricia Bogie
Chief Development & Communications Officer
Tel: 607-844-6243
Email
MEDIA CONTACT FOR CHRIS HERREN / HERREN TALKS
Jenny Swider
Communications Director
Tel: 401-243-8555
Email