Richard Jenson
August 4, 2008 3:45 PM Subscribe
Getting Off The Mat - After losing 15 years of his life to drug addiction and prison, Richard Jensen was reborn as a 36-year-old college wrestler.
Ok, but how many 36-year-old colleges are out there?
posted by Eideteker at 4:15 PM on August 4, 2008
posted by Eideteker at 4:15 PM on August 4, 2008
So that is how the deck hands on "Deadliest Catch" work for 3 days straight. They even show crab cages in the video. Great story though.
posted by Mr_Zero at 4:30 PM on August 4, 2008
posted by Mr_Zero at 4:30 PM on August 4, 2008
Neat story. Always encouraging that a few people make it back.
posted by maxwelton at 4:40 PM on August 4, 2008
posted by maxwelton at 4:40 PM on August 4, 2008
Always encouraging that a few people make it back.
Actually don't most make it back. I mean for all the people that try meth don't just a small percentage totally destroy their lives with it? Stats anyone?
posted by Mr_Zero at 5:04 PM on August 4, 2008
Actually don't most make it back. I mean for all the people that try meth don't just a small percentage totally destroy their lives with it? Stats anyone?
posted by Mr_Zero at 5:04 PM on August 4, 2008
This is my first time on MeFi and I found this straight away, so how lucky am I! Great story with some very memorable images. Especially that whole idea of moving from darkness to light by finding a purpose.
posted by the-happy-manager at 5:20 PM on August 4, 2008
posted by the-happy-manager at 5:20 PM on August 4, 2008
He was a boozer, a user, and a loser, but now he's back in school. And though the faces may have changed, the wrastl'es are just the same.
posted by dgaicun at 5:29 PM on August 4, 2008 [4 favorites]
posted by dgaicun at 5:29 PM on August 4, 2008 [4 favorites]
Strangers With Candy: The College Years.
posted by Maisie Jay at 6:18 PM on August 4, 2008
posted by Maisie Jay at 6:18 PM on August 4, 2008
Cool story, but I found some of the closeups to be very heavy-handed. The moment where he speaks about being a monster and is shown in close-up, lit campfire-ghost-story/low-budget-horror-movie style induced a particularly strong cringe for me. Please, let's skip the cheap shots (pun intended).
posted by Alterscape at 6:28 PM on August 4, 2008
posted by Alterscape at 6:28 PM on August 4, 2008
Huge majority of meth users (as with most other drugs, excepting tobacco) try it once or twice and never do it again. About 10-20% of those who try it (roughly same for coke, heroin, and alcohol, 30% or so for tobacco) become addicted.
Of the addicts, it's hard to say what proportion quit-- we know that with tobacco, the vast majority of those who quit do so without formal treatment, even though it is the most addictive drug in terms of capture rate of those who try. (These figures may be changing, however, with the limitations on smoking and the availability of nicotine replacement decreasing the capture rate and the quit without treatment rate respectively).
We know that if you *do* go to treatment for almost any addiction, you are amongst the hardest cases and the odds of quitting the first time without relapsing are very low. We also know that there are lots of addicts out there who never get treatment and who quit at much better rates.
The cynics say that this is because treatment does harm-- the truth is probably that some treatment does harm but more importantly, those who seek help are those who can't quit without it so treatment isn't making most people worse, it's just not helping the hard cases a huge amount.
However, if measured by reduction in use (not cure on first go), treatment is quite successful -- it is as successful as treatment for other chronic illnesses like diabetes and high blood pressure.
And, with repeated tries and with age, probably the majority even in treatment samples quit and a significant minority switch to mellower drugs like alcohol and another significant minorities dies.
posted by Maias at 7:02 PM on August 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
Of the addicts, it's hard to say what proportion quit-- we know that with tobacco, the vast majority of those who quit do so without formal treatment, even though it is the most addictive drug in terms of capture rate of those who try. (These figures may be changing, however, with the limitations on smoking and the availability of nicotine replacement decreasing the capture rate and the quit without treatment rate respectively).
We know that if you *do* go to treatment for almost any addiction, you are amongst the hardest cases and the odds of quitting the first time without relapsing are very low. We also know that there are lots of addicts out there who never get treatment and who quit at much better rates.
The cynics say that this is because treatment does harm-- the truth is probably that some treatment does harm but more importantly, those who seek help are those who can't quit without it so treatment isn't making most people worse, it's just not helping the hard cases a huge amount.
However, if measured by reduction in use (not cure on first go), treatment is quite successful -- it is as successful as treatment for other chronic illnesses like diabetes and high blood pressure.
And, with repeated tries and with age, probably the majority even in treatment samples quit and a significant minority switch to mellower drugs like alcohol and another significant minorities dies.
posted by Maias at 7:02 PM on August 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
Man, I am so blessed that I never had to face the horrors of meth addiction or college wrestling.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 10:04 PM on August 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by BitterOldPunk at 10:04 PM on August 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
I always wondered what happened to Shute after Louden Swain beat him in high school.
posted by Senator at 11:08 PM on August 4, 2008
posted by Senator at 11:08 PM on August 4, 2008
Man, I am so blessed that I never had to face the horrors of meth addiction or college wrestling.
Funny that both seem to cause unhealthy weight loss and bad teeth.
posted by psmealey at 12:39 AM on August 5, 2008
Funny that both seem to cause unhealthy weight loss and bad teeth.
posted by psmealey at 12:39 AM on August 5, 2008
I'd like to start over at 13. Also, as a pretty, pretty girl.
posted by Halloween Jack at 11:24 AM on August 5, 2008
posted by Halloween Jack at 11:24 AM on August 5, 2008
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posted by doctor_negative at 4:11 PM on August 4, 2008