08 Apr Hannahs story is a sad story with a lot of heartache and tragedy. Haris book states, To the prohibitionists, Hannah is a failure, because she continued using drugs. To the Portla
Hannah’s story is a sad story with a lot of heartache and tragedy. Hari’s book states, “To the prohibitionists, Hannah is a failure, because she continued using drugs. To the Portland Hotel Society, she was a success, because she knew she was loved." (Hari, 2015, p. 167) Whether or not she is deemed a success would depend on how the word ‘success’ is defined. The 1828 Merriam-Websters dictionary defines success as “The favorable or prosperous termination of any thing attempted; a termination which answers the purpose intended”. (Merriam-Webster 1828) Obviously, the Portland Hotel Society is not using this term in the most literal sense, but instead, applying the word success to their biggest concern, an individual knowing whether or not they are loved and valued. The Portland Hotel Society, did love and value her, showing her that they did in every possible way they could. After reading her story, I’m not sure she was in any position to really internalize that value herself. While research does show a lower relapse rate among those who have intimate relational ties (Zeng, Chen, 2021), many addicts have people that love them, but the addicts are so wrapped up in their own overwhelming emotions that they can rarely see it. As to the term ‘success’, as defined by Marriam Webster, I’m not sure how that would be measured since sobriety involves a change in mindset, functional life choices, ect. Simply not ‘using’ would not be an accurate measurement since one can be clean and sober and still not be able to hold a job or function as part of society. I don’t think there is a clear line to be agreed upon and drawn between successful and unsuccessful when it comes to sobriety. As far as Hannah’s story, while I am glad that she was taken care of and loved by the Portland Hotel Society, I do not believe her story to be a success because she never had peace or even the slightest understanding of her value as a human being.
References
Zeng, X., Lu, M., & Chen, M. (2021). The relationship between family intimacy and relapse tendency among people who use drugs: a moderated mediation model. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, 16(1). https://doi-org.portal.lib.fit.edu/10.1186/s13011-021-00386-7
Hari, J. (2015). Chasing the scream: The first and last days of the war on drugs. Bloomsbury.
Success, 1828, Merriam-Webster, n.d., https://webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/success
RISE Model – Copyright © 2013 Emily Wray – www.RiseModel.com
Meets Standards Does NOT Meet Standards
REFLECT Recall, ponder and communicate
discussion Responds to the project/discussion in
vague terms by addressing assignment
insight into what was recalled
EXAMPLE: “I relate/concur/disagree with X because…” OR “I like what you did with X because…”
INQUIRE Seek information and/or provide ideas through questioning
Asks thought-provoking questions that might lead to a new perception; Asks
clarifying questions to provoke deeper understanding
Asks passive questions that require a one-word answer or provoke no
response at all
EXAMPLE: “Have you considered looking at X from Y perspective?” OR “When you said X, am I understanding you to mean XY?”
SUGGEST Introduce ideas for improvement of current iteration
improvement of current project/ discussion based on assignment criteria
improvement of current project/ discussion based on assignment criteria
EXAMPLE: include supporting information from X resource – Here’s a link”
ELEVATE Raise to a higher degree or purpose in future iterations
how to expand the project/discussion beyond its original scope or stated
assignment criteria
Proposes no ideas for expansion
EXAMPLE: “Perhaps you can expand this in X capacity to further address Y” OR “Perhaps you can re-purpose X as Y for Z”
