--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: the Times says there's a heroin epidemic…" description: "\"“the Times says there's a heroin epidemic, Malone thinks, which is only an epidemic of course because now white people are dying. Whites started to get..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acf/don-winslow-3586_drugs_the-times-says-there-s-a-heroin-epidemic_1097306.png" --- # the Times says there's a heroin epidemic, Malone thinks… ![“the Times says there's a heroin epidemic, Malone thinks, which is only an epidemic of course because now white people are dying. Whites started to get opium-based pills from their physicians: oxycodone, vicodin... But, it was expensive and doctors were reluctant to prescribe too much for exactly…” quote by Don Winslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acf/don-winslow-3586_drugs_the-times-says-there-s-a-heroin-epidemic_1097306.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acf/don-winslow-3586_drugs_the-times-says-there-s-a-heroin-epidemic_1097306.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acf/don-winslow-3586_drugs_the-times-says-there-s-a-heroin-epidemic_1097306.png) > ““the Times says there's a heroin epidemic, Malone thinks, which is only an epidemic of course because now white people are dying. Whites started to get opium-based pills from their physicians: oxycodone, vicodin... But, it was expensive and doctors were reluctant to prescribe too much for exactly the fear of addiction. So the white folks went to the open market and the pills became a street drug. It was all very nice and civilized until the Sinoloa cartel down in Mexico made a corporate decision that it could undersell the big American pharmaceutical companies by raising production of its heroin thereby reducing price. As an incentive, they also increased its potency. The addicted white Americans found that Mexican ... heroin was cheaper and stronger than the pills, and started shooting it into their veins and overdosing. Malone literally saw it happening. He and his team busted more bridge-and-tunnel junkies, suburban housewives and upper Eastside madonnas than they could count…”” [Don Winslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-winslow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The opioid crisis escalated when prescription drugs became scarce, leading users to cheaper, stronger heroin from Mexican cartels, intensifying addiction and overdose deaths among white Americans. **In simple terms:** Prescription limits pushed users to heroin, worsening the epidemic. Key Takeaway Address prescription abuse and improve treatment access. Themes addiction public health drug policy social inequality Mood concerned urgent critical Type observational analytical narrative When to use this quote - urban communities - suburban households - healthcare settings - law enforcement interventions Key Concepts opioid epidemic market dynamics pharmaceutical ethics Questions to Reflect On - How can policy balance pain management with addiction risk? - What role should pharmaceutical companies play in prevention? A Different Perspective The quote focuses on white Americans, overlooking broader demographic impacts and systemic factors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Drugs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drugs/) [Heroin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heroin/) [Opioids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opioids/) [White people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-people/) [Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wine/) ## Related quotes > [What happened with the opioid epidemic is the Mexican cartels made a very deliberate, corporate decision to undercut the price of opioids. What they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-winslow/what-happened-with-the-opioid-epidemic-is-the-mexican-cartels-made-a/) [Don Winslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-winslow/) > [The Force deals a lot with the heroin epidemic, which I'm sorry to know people are experiencing in Canada.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-winslow/the-force-deals-a-lot-with-the-heroin-epidemic-which-i-m-sorry-to/) [Don Winslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-winslow/) > [Probably because I personally knew at least six or seven people in Ross County who died from overdoses in the last three years. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/probably-because-i-personally-knew-at-least-six-or-seven-people-in/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [ How does the \[New York\] Times treat White pathology? They reported an epidemic of heroin addiction in the Philadelphia suburbs. which included emergency admissions… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael-reed/how-does-the-new-york-times-treat-white-pathology-they-reported-an/) [Ishmael Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael-reed/) > [“We have a genuine and devastating epidemic of opiate abuse in this country, and it is of critical importance that this problem be addressed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bihovsky/we-have-a-genuine-and-devastating-epidemic-of-opiate-abuse-in-this/) [Michael Bihovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bihovsky/) > [“Anyone who takes opioids on a regular basis will become dependent upon them, meaning they will have to taper off gradually to avoid withdrawal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-lee-richards/anyone-who-takes-opioids-on-a-regular-basis-will-become-dependent/) Karen Lee Richards > [“The addiction crisis is terrifying, and many people don’t comprehend appropriate opioid use. When I first started taking pain medication, I remember a family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianne-bourque/the-addiction-crisis-is-terrifying-and-many-people-don-t-comprehend/) Dianne Bourque > [“Despite what appears to be a low risk of addiction in naïve, chronic pain patients, it is reasonable to ask how much harm is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-l-fields/despite-what-appears-to-be-a-low-risk-of-addiction-in-na-ve-chronic/) Howard L. Fields > [“My doctors, who are not cavalier with prescriptions, give me this medication because I have earned their trust. And yet, with mounting government and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bihovsky/my-doctors-who-are-not-cavalier-with-prescriptions-give-me-this/) [Michael Bihovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bihovsky/) > [“I currently take Lortab, which is a combination of acetaminophen and hydrocodone. I’d rather not take this medication, or any medication for that matter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moore/i-currently-take-lortab-which-is-a-combination-of-acetaminophen-and/) [Alison Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moore/) > [“Several medical professional organizations acknowledge the utility of opioid therapy and many case series and large surveys report satisfactory reductions in pain, improvement in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-rosenblum/several-medical-professional-organizations-acknowledge-the-utility-of/) Andrew Rosenblum > [“Government agencies are trying to get doctors to cut back on prescribing opioids. I understand that they need to do something about the epidemic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moore/government-agencies-are-trying-to-get-doctors-to-cut-back-on/) [Alison Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moore/) ## More by Don Winslow > [There are various kinds of savagery: emotional, spiritual, economic, and cultural savagery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-winslow/there-are-various-kinds-of-savagery-emotional-spiritual-economic-and/) [Don Winslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-winslow/) > [“We proclaimed the freedom of the individual, bought and drove millions of cars to prove it, built more roads for the cars to drive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-winslow/we-proclaimed-the-freedom-of-the-individual-bought-and-drove-millions/) [Don Winslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-winslow/) > [We need to do something about gun violence in America. But every time one of these things happen, we say the same thing, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-winslow/we-need-to-do-something-about-gun-violence-in-america-but-every-time/) [Don Winslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-winslow/) > [And the most dangerous place on earth - Is where you’re safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-winslow/and-the-most-dangerous-place-on-earth-is-where-you-re-safe/) [Don Winslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-winslow/) > [So I thought I should write five pages a day. And that's what I did. Eventually I had a book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-winslow/so-i-thought-i-should-write-five-pages-a-day-and-that-s-what-i-did/) [Don Winslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-winslow/) > [I used to joke that my next book would be about puppies that have lost a chew toy, and everywhere they went, people were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-winslow/i-used-to-joke-that-my-next-book-would-be-about-puppies-that-have/) [Don Winslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-winslow/) > [I was a safari guide in the 1980s in Kenya.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-winslow/i-was-a-safari-guide-in-the-1980s-in-kenya/) [Don Winslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-winslow/) > [Bookstores never seem to know where to put me on the shelves. But I do. I love my genre and I love those writers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-winslow/bookstores-never-seem-to-know-where-to-put-me-on-the-shelves-but-i-do/) [Don Winslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-winslow/) > [Shane Salerno and I adapted my book Savages together, and I learned a lot about adaptation. I think it's an extremely difficult thing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-winslow/shane-salerno-and-i-adapted-my-book-savages-together-and-i-learned-a/) [Don Winslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-winslow/) > [I've been writing since I was six years old. It's hard to imagine stopping. I would hate to think that I've already written my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-winslow/i-ve-been-writing-since-i-was-six-years-old-it-s-hard-to-imagine/) [Don Winslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-winslow/) > [I lived in mafia neighborhoods off and on when I was a kid. If you were in Little Italy, in East Harlem, in Brooklyn...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-winslow/i-lived-in-mafia-neighborhoods-off-and-on-when-i-was-a-kid-if-you/) [Don Winslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-winslow/) > [“Hell isn't having no choice. It's having to make a choice between horrific things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-winslow/hell-isn-t-having-no-choice-it-s-having-to-make-a-choice-between/) [Don Winslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-winslow/) > [Producing words isn't a problem for me. And I usually write two books at a time. When one horse gets winded, you jump on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-winslow/producing-words-isn-t-a-problem-for-me-and-i-usually-write-two-books/) [Don Winslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-winslow/) > [I think people will be surprised at some of the things about the shootings by policemen of unarmed African-American men. But I also think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-winslow/i-think-people-will-be-surprised-at-some-of-the-things-about-the/) [Don Winslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-winslow/) > [“There are the gods of place and the gods of commerce, and if you have to bet who’s going to win out, put your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-winslow/there-are-the-gods-of-place-and-the-gods-of-commerce-and-if-you-have/) [Don Winslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-winslow/) [Explore all 125 Don Winslow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-winslow/) ## More Drugs quotes > [You find out so many interesting things when you're not on drugs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boy-george/you-find-out-so-many-interesting-things-when-you-re-not-on-drugs/) [Boy George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boy-george/) > [Who said we take drugs? we're just lacking fate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cath-chatto/who-said-we-take-drugs-we-re-just-lacking-fate/) [Cath Chatto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cath-chatto/) > [We have drugs to make women speak, but none to keep them silent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/we-have-drugs-to-make-women-speak-but-none-to-keep-them-silent/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) > [not all drugs are good.. some of them are great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/not-all-drugs-are-good-some-of-them-are-great/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [A pill to make you numb, a pill to you make you dumb, a pill to make you anybody else, but all the drugs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/a-pill-to-make-you-numb-a-pill-to-you-make-you-dumb-a-pill-to-make/) [Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-manson/) > [“People aren't crazy, they’re just reacting normally to an abnormally crazy world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-s-b-morse/people-aren-t-crazy-they-re-just-reacting-normally-to-an-abnormally/) [J.S.B. 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Not scared to break…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/progrezza/raves-when-it-was-safe-to-be-free-wave-your-hands-in-the-air-like-you/) [Progrezza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/progrezza/) > [Rock n roll is about drugs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/rock-n-roll-is-about-drugs/) [Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-manson/) > [If you don't think drugs have done good things for us, then take all of your records, tapes and CD's and burn them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/if-you-don-t-think-drugs-have-done-good-things-for-us-then-take-all/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [I don't like drug, but drug like me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ammar-farini/i-don-t-like-drug-but-drug-like-me/) Ammar Farini > [“If Barack Obama had come up in a time when the drug war was being waged as intensely as it is now, we probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-hart/if-barack-obama-had-come-up-in-a-time-when-the-drug-war-was-being/) [Carl Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-hart/) > [“Whenever the wife wants to do drugs, she thinks about Sartre. 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Keck Observatory is the only employer that has surprised me during my employment with urine tests for illegal drugs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-w-m-keck-observatory-is-the-only-employer-that-has-surprised-me/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [I think religion is bad and drugs are good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-think-religion-is-bad-and-drugs-are-good/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [You're my drugs because you help me see the beauty of life upside down and you help me escape the ugliness of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-re-my-drugs-because-you-help-me-see-the-beauty-of-life-upside/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 1,085 Drugs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drugs/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“the Times says there's a heroin epidemic, Malone thinks, which is only an epidemic of course because now white people are dying. 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