BALTIMORE - It's been nearly 20 years since Maryland basketball star Len Bias died of cocaine intoxication. During that time, Lonise Bias has worked tirelessly to ensure that her son's death was not in vain.
Lonise Bias has conducted workshops and seminars around the country in an effort to curb drug abuse among the nation's youth. She launched the campaign to cope with her loss and to help parents avoid a similar tragedy.
Len Bias died of a cocaine overdose on June 19, 1986, two days after being selected by the Boston Celtics with the second overall pick in the NBA draft. Lonise Bias had no idea he was using the drug.
"If he did have a problem," she said Thursday, "the only thing I would have done is work through it with him."
Len Bias gave no indication of his drug use while on the basketball court. During a brilliant four-year run at Maryland, he scored 2,149 points (averaged 16.4) and was selected Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year in 1985 and 1986.
The Celtics were eager to have him, and he was delighted to be drafted by the then-world champions. But Bias never got the chance to show his prowess in the NBA.
Soon after burying her son, Lonise Bias decided to make sure that others could benefit from the circumstances of his passing.
"I have seen a lot of good come out of his death," she said Thursday.
Speaking as part of a conference call designed to bring attention to the impact of Len Bias' death, Lonise Bias said, "I believe that Len's death helped turned the situation around involving drugs in a positive direction. Len lost his life to help save others."
She said countless people have told her that they stopped using cocaine after learning that Len Bias died of an overdose. Lonise Bias made it her mission to make sure that today's young people don't even start using drugs.
"I have used Len's death as an avenue to bring about change," she said.
Scott Burns, a member of the White House Office of National Control Policy, said Bias' death "focused parents and teens on drug abuse. ... Now, this anniversary will help us remember we have to educate young people. We cannot afford to lose another young life to drug abuse."
Were it not for drugs, Len Bias almost certainly would have been a millionaire and an NBA star. His legacy now is to serve as an example for America's youth.
"If Len would have lived, he would have entertained you," Lonise Bias said. "But in death, he brought life."