I traveled to Australia a week ago i visited a indigenous communities in Redfern. i interviewed a man named Anthony Mundine. He is the son of boxer Tony Mundine and is a member of the Bundjalung people. Mundine has had a stormy relationship with the media. His conversion to Islam in 1999, self-promotion and outspoken opinions have created a love-hate relationship with the Australian public and he has been described as "the most polarizing athlete in Australian sports history". Before his boxing career, he was delightful that they built a gym in his block because he feels like he can get away from all the bad influence being brought to him and the community such as, drugs and alcohol. Anthony have seen people getting arrested and he thought to himself that he didn't want to be like that. He wants to be somebody that people can look up to and to inspire.Throughout his life he was dealing with peer pressure to take drugs, but he had a strong mentality to refuse drugs and better himself to be the best and achieve in something. He stated, " I saw a lot of drugs and alcohol affecting my people coming up as a kid, and i didn't want to be like that." Sports was his hero. He had a passion for sports and to be successful. He is very dedicated to his sport and nothing is going to stop him. peer pressure can come at you directly when someone tells you to use drugs or drink to fit in with the crowd. If someone is feeling pressured to take drugs the best thing to do is to talk to someone for helpful decisions to better yourself.
For most of Mindy’s 19 years of life, she was a “normal kid” Drugs and alcohol had never been a problem Mindy says, “I didn’t drink, smoke pot or anything,” she says. But Mindy’s boyfriend was another story. Her boyfriend was into heroin. Though she was tempted to try it, she never did. And then in 2009, he jabbed her with a heroin-filled syringe as she walked by. After a while she got addicted and she use to steal money from her parents to buy drugs. Mindy continued with her addiction. after a couple months she got a therapist because she wasn't proud of her decisions. Like Anthony she decided to let stress out on something that can benefit them. One of the most important lessons was making a commitment to honesty – with herself, and with others. “I learned I had to be honest with myself,” Mindy says. “I had been lying to myself.”
Mindy graduated from Hope Academy on May 28th, 2010, and has enrolled at IVY Tech Community College. After she finishes at IVY Tech she wants to earn a degree in mortuary sciences, but is taking life one day at a time. “I live by that,” she says with a smile. http://www.fairbankscd.org/mind
It started with a pill at a party. Taryn Erbes a 17 years old student at kennedy high school, just wanted to get a little high. She figured the prescription pills were safer than illegal substances like alcohol and marijuana. And since they were legal, Erbes thought she'd got in less trouble if she were caught. At first she didnt need the drug as often but then she felt like she needed it every hour which leads to addiction. Her grades slipped. She stopped participating in sports and after school activities. " she was just so focused on the drugs", her friend said. According to woolery calls to the poison control center in lowa for prescription pain relievers have increased 2,300 percent. " too many people are getting hurt," woolery said. " and tragically, too many people die. we need to work on improving that situation before it gets worse." woolery also said " its clear now one persons medicine can be another persons poison." Taryn is now making a tranformation to her life. She hopes to graduate in May and said the area subtance abuse council has "change her life".these two stories are similar to Anthonys because these two people were being peer pressured and were struggling to find a good path to succeed.
http://thegazette.com/2013/10/09/cedar-rapids-teen-tells-her-drug-abuse-story-at-prescription-awareness-event
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