Chris Herren's graphic, and brutally honest story of how his gradual slide into addiction cost him a pro basketball career got me thinking. How many D.A.R.E. classes have we sat in in which someone told us underage drinking is not cool? Watch the Stanley Cup Finals, and you'll see a segment sponsored by a rum company, the board ads promote Canadian whisky and the in-game commercials are for whiskey and, of course, beer. The only thing I knew of addiction was that it seemed like a lack of willpower, and that drug addicts lose money, then steal and become homeless. I stumbled upon Herren's story through the ESPN "30 for 30" documentary, Unguarded and watched how a superstar athlete went from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows. [...] whether you know it or not, there are addicts -- both recovering and active -- living amongst you in nearly every walk of life. Kids see addiction as the homeless man, the prostitute, the person coming up to the money begging for money. Herren's speech undoubtedly scared the bejesus out of some, but in the end the appreciative crowd treated Herren to a standing ovation. Folks from the Fairfield Cares Community Coalition deserve some recognition. Between parents, children, siblings, friends and relatives, Herren told me about 80 million people in the U.S. are affected by addiction.