5.2 discussion Pt 2

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

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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”