--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we start treating addiction as a…" description: "\"If we start treating addiction as a public health issue, with more compassion, and without the criminal element, our society will be better off and vio..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b1/john-fetterman-6257_addiction_if-we-start-treating-addiction-as-a-publ_938687.jpg" --- # If we start treating addiction as a public health issue… ![“If we start treating addiction as a public health issue, with more compassion, and without the criminal element, our society will be better off and violence and public safety will improve as a result. We'll also be taking a big step in taking down the prison-industrial complex that…” quote by John Fetterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b1/john-fetterman-6257_addiction_if-we-start-treating-addiction-as-a-publ_938687.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b1/john-fetterman-6257_addiction_if-we-start-treating-addiction-as-a-publ_938687.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b1/john-fetterman-6257_addiction_if-we-start-treating-addiction-as-a-publ_938687.jpg) > “If we start treating addiction as a public health issue, with more compassion, and without the criminal element, our society will be better off and violence and public safety will improve as a result. We'll also be taking a big step in taking down the prison-industrial complex that disproportionately harms communities of color.” [John Fetterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fetterman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Treating addiction as a health issue with compassion reduces violence and weakens the prison‑industrial complex, especially benefiting marginalized communities. **In simple terms:** Compassionate health approach lowers violence and helps oppressed groups. Key Takeaway Shift from punishment to care. Themes public health criminal justice reform social equity violence prevention Mood hopeful determined urgent Type policy advocacy inspirational When to use this quote - policy advocacy - community health programs - law enforcement training - public education campaigns Key Concepts addiction treatment systemic racism prison reform community health Questions to Reflect On - How can we fund compassionate addiction services? - What barriers exist to de‑criminalizing drug use? A Different Perspective Implementation requires massive funding and political will. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Addiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/addiction/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Public health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-health/) [Public safety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-safety/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) [Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wine/) ## Related quotes > [“You can't transform a society for the better with violence, Ashala. Only with ideas.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambelin-kwaymullina/you-can-t-transform-a-society-for-the-better-with-violence-ashala/) [Ambelin Kwaymullina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambelin-kwaymullina/) > [It is unacceptable that the way we have treated people who have become addicted in the past is by throwing them in prison. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perri-peltz/it-is-unacceptable-that-the-way-we-have-treated-people-who-have/) [Perri Peltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perri-peltz/) > [We need to start treating addiction like the chronic disease that it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-burgum/we-need-to-start-treating-addiction-like-the-chronic-disease-that-it/) [Doug Burgum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-burgum/) > [Gentleness succeeds better than violence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/gentleness-succeeds-better-than-violence/) [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) > [It is better to be violence, if thare is violence in our hearts , than to put on the clock of nonviolence to cover…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drparth/it-is-better-to-be-violence-if-thare-is-violence-in-our-hearts-than/) Drparth > [That's part of the reason why we also need to focus on, how do I give to society, how do I participate in society,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/that-s-part-of-the-reason-why-we-also-need-to-focus-on-how-do-i-give/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [If it awakens in us as a whole how important that is - the theme of how conquest and ambition are meaningless without contribution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-morrow/if-it-awakens-in-us-as-a-whole-how-important-that-is-the-theme-of-how/) [Rob Morrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-morrow/) > [Society as a whole is better off when information is available to the public. 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Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-a-tucker/) > [“When I perceived (which I did, almost as soon) that jealousy was growing out of this, I liked this society still better. Had I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/when-i-perceived-which-i-did-almost-as-soon-that-jealousy-was-growing/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [I've experienced colorism in that way: where if you're lighter, then you'll potentially be accepted into society better than if you were darker-skinned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/i-ve-experienced-colorism-in-that-way-where-if-you-re-lighter-then/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [“For our society to be better, we must revive our conscience and do Godly things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/for-our-society-to-be-better-we-must-revive-our-conscience-and-do/) [Ifeanyi Enoch Onuoha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/) ## More by John Fetterman > [If we turn our backs on the remaining industries and not reinvest in these places and just say 'You're on your own,' we will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fetterman/if-we-turn-our-backs-on-the-remaining-industries-and-not-reinvest-in/) [John Fetterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fetterman/) > [I said you could sue a ham sandwich. It's not going to change anything. Well, you can audit a ham sandwich, and it's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fetterman/i-said-you-could-sue-a-ham-sandwich-it-s-not-going-to-change-anything/) [John Fetterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fetterman/) > [We must never stop pushing for equal protection under the law in Pennsylvania and across the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fetterman/we-must-never-stop-pushing-for-equal-protection-under-the-law-in/) [John Fetterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fetterman/) > [We use art to combat the dark side of capitalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fetterman/we-use-art-to-combat-the-dark-side-of-capitalism/) [John Fetterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fetterman/) > [I have said this before. Donald Trump is very popular in Pennsylvania. We cannot afford to underestimate his popularity in our state. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fetterman/i-have-said-this-before-donald-trump-is-very-popular-in-pennsylvania/) [John Fetterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fetterman/) > [I'm proud that my family and I live across the street from a steel mill and a union hall. 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Maybe that's why my tattoos are literally the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fetterman/i-don-t-mean-to-look-scary-it-s-just-kind-of-what-i-have-to-work-with/) [John Fetterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fetterman/) > [I'm in the camp that says that if you're to the right of South Dakota on anything, you should use that as a moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fetterman/i-m-in-the-camp-that-says-that-if-you-re-to-the-right-of-south-dakota/) [John Fetterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fetterman/) > [I've said to workers that I don't care what you agree with me on politically - I hope it's as many things as possible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fetterman/i-ve-said-to-workers-that-i-don-t-care-what-you-agree-with-me-on/) [John Fetterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fetterman/) > [Whether it's leaders from my own town of Braddock or leaders across the state in Bucks County or Adams County, I'm committed to always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fetterman/whether-it-s-leaders-from-my-own-town-of-braddock-or-leaders-across/) [John Fetterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fetterman/) > [If there's ever a boot that comes down to the union way of life or some other kind of arrangement or some kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fetterman/if-there-s-ever-a-boot-that-comes-down-to-the-union-way-of-life-or/) [John Fetterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fetterman/) > [On my left arm, I have the zip code 15104. That's Braddock, Pennsylvania, my home and the community I was honored to serve as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fetterman/on-my-left-arm-i-have-the-zip-code-15104-that-s-braddock-pennsylvania/) [John Fetterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fetterman/) > [We can't let ourselves stop believing in Second Chances for everyone. That's why my role on the Board of Pardons is so important to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fetterman/we-can-t-let-ourselves-stop-believing-in-second-chances-for-everyone/) [John Fetterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fetterman/) [Explore all 99 John Fetterman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fetterman/) ## More Addiction quotes > [What has drug addiction done for me? It's cost me my career, my fortune and basically my sex life when I found out I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbin-crosby/what-has-drug-addiction-done-for-me-it-s-cost-me-my-career-my-fortune/) Robbin Crosby > [“The idea that creative endeavor and mind-altering substances are entwined is one of the great pop-intellectual myths of our time... Creative people probably do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-idea-that-creative-endeavor-and-mind-altering-substances-are/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [I really think the disease aspect gets lost when you're talking about alcoholism and addiction; it's not like you're battling leukemia or a heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-irsay/i-really-think-the-disease-aspect-gets-lost-when-you-re-talking-about/) [Jim Irsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-irsay/) > [I had an addiction to artificial points of success. Like being able to run for this or run for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-gallego/i-had-an-addiction-to-artificial-points-of-success-like-being-able-to/) [Ruben Gallego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-gallego/) > [“Addictions are just symptoms of underlying issues, and in my view Nikki self-medicated the emotional pain of his childhood, and being away from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-sixx/addictions-are-just-symptoms-of-underlying-issues-and-in-my-view/) [Nikki Sixx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-sixx/) > [“Oil. The great addiction of the civilized world”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-warren/oil-the-great-addiction-of-the-civilized-world/) [Andrew Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-warren/) > [“They say when you fall in love in love with someone that person becomes like a drug,an addiction you don't want to live without.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/they-say-when-you-fall-in-love-in-love-with-someone-that-person/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Addictions - Run to Jesus instead of running to your addiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/addictions-run-to-jesus-instead-of-running-to-your-addiction/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Music is my personal addiction. So much of everything I've done has only been to open more doors for the music itself. It all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/music-is-my-personal-addiction-so-much-of-everything-i-ve-done-has/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [“I am made of a thousand ghosts. Only you can shoot me down.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-james/i-am-made-of-a-thousand-ghosts-only-you-can-shoot-me-down/) Bella James > [Religious work is one of the best ways to keep from facing your reality if you are Christian, if you are using it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-miller/religious-work-is-one-of-the-best-ways-to-keep-from-facing-your/) [Keith Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-miller/) > [Cold sweats, hallucinations I wanna speed to stop. 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