Don't Let Others Write Your StoryDon't Let Others Write Your Story
Addict II Athlete Podcast
Chief of Police Craig Martinez shares how he went from a troubled, abusive childhood and teen partying to the military and law enforcement, stressing personal responsibility and the power of choosing a different path. The conversation focuses on addiction, parenting, youth peer pressure and why people should not let others write their story.
48:05•18 Nov 2019
Don't Let Others Write Your Story: A Police Chief on Addiction, Parenting and Second Chances
Episode Overview
- A single moment of accountability, such as facing an unplanned pregnancy, can push someone to choose responsibility and change direction.
- Parents are urged to notice small changes in behaviour, check phones, and pay close attention to who their children spend time with.
- Calling the police on a child can, in some cases, be a crucial turning point rather than a betrayal, especially when all other efforts have failed.
- Young people are encouraged to be the one who says no at parties, as others may be waiting for someone strong enough to speak up first.
- Openly sharing past mistakes with children can reduce secrecy around addiction and help them make better choices.
“Don’t let somebody else write your story. Absolutely. You’re the author of your own.”
What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol, drugs, and chaos? This conversation between host Coach Blu Robinson and Springville City’s Chief of Police, Craig Martinez, offers a raw, honest look at how one teenage “juvenile delinquent” rewrote his future. Craig shares growing up in a physically and emotionally abusive home, numbing the pain with parties, alcohol and a bit of marijuana, and genuinely not caring what happened to him.
Everything shifted at 17 when his girlfriend became pregnant and her father asked, “What are you going to do?” Without a plan, Craig blurted out, “I’m going to join the Marine Corps” – and then actually did it. That moment, he says, was where his road changed. Years later, after military service and more than two decades in policing, Craig reflects on how his past shapes the way he sees addiction, both in his own family and on the job.
He talks about the heartbreaking reality of watching loved ones struggle, the impact of multi‑generational addiction, and why some family members end up “raising the white flag”. Parents and teens get plenty of practical advice too. Craig stresses early warning signs, setting boundaries, checking phones, and knowing your children’s friends.
He’s clear that sometimes the most loving thing a parent can do is call the police on their own child – a move that has been the turning point for many people in recovery.
As he and Blu remind everyone: “Don’t let somebody else write your story… you’re the author of your own.” There’s also a lighter side: Craig’s trademark humour, his candid talk about social media and policing, and why kids need the courage to be the one at the party who says, “No, I’m out.” If you’re a parent, a young person, or anyone touched by addiction, this conversation might get you asking: whose hand is holding the pen in your story?
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