--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are having a public health response to…" description: "\"We are having a public health response to this epidemic of prescription opioids. We are looking at treatment options, there are drugs being made availa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94d/perri-peltz-36101_criminal-justice_we-are-having-a-public-health-response-t_1042570.jpg" --- # We are having a public health response to this epidemic of… ![“We are having a public health response to this epidemic of prescription opioids. We are looking at treatment options, there are drugs being made available for treatments, and we aren't just throwing people in prison. So this is a very different response than the traditional criminal justice…” quote by Perri Peltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94d/perri-peltz-36101_criminal-justice_we-are-having-a-public-health-response-t_1042570.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94d/perri-peltz-36101_criminal-justice_we-are-having-a-public-health-response-t_1042570.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94d/perri-peltz-36101_criminal-justice_we-are-having-a-public-health-response-t_1042570.jpg) > “We are having a public health response to this epidemic of prescription opioids. We are looking at treatment options, there are drugs being made available for treatments, and we aren't just throwing people in prison. So this is a very different response than the traditional criminal justice response that we have had to past drug epidemics.” [Perri Peltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perri-peltz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The approach shifts from punishment to health‑focused treatment, using medication‑assisted therapies instead of incarceration. **In simple terms:** Treat addiction as a health issue, not a crime. Key Takeaway Support health‑based interventions for opioid abuse. Themes public health opioids policy rehabilitation Mood concerned serious Type policy educational When to use this quote - clinical settings - community programs - policy making - patient care Key Concepts harm reduction medication‑assisted treatment criminal justice reform Questions to Reflect On - How can communities balance treatment and prevention? - What barriers exist to health‑first policies? A Different Perspective Implementation faces funding and stigma challenges. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Criminal justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criminal-justice/) [Drug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drug/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Prison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prison/) [Public health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-health/) [Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wine/) ## Related quotes > [In 1999, Purdue Pharma the maker of OxyContin went on a massive marketing campaign. Back then, prescription opioids were only used in extreme cases…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perri-peltz/in-1999-purdue-pharma-the-maker-of-oxycontin-went-on-a-massive/) [Perri Peltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perri-peltz/) > [We did decide that every addict in this film, Warning: This Drug May Kill You, would be someone who started out with a prescription…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perri-peltz/we-did-decide-that-every-addict-in-this-film-warning-this-drug-may/) [Perri Peltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perri-peltz/) > [I really do think for the vast majority of cases, doctors didn't think they were doing anything wrong - they were doing what was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perri-peltz/i-really-do-think-for-the-vast-majority-of-cases-doctors-didn-t-think/) [Perri Peltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perri-peltz/) > [Without an adequate response, an epidemic can develop into a pandemic, which generally means it has spread to more than one continent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-huffman/without-an-adequate-response-an-epidemic-can-develop-into-a-pandemic/) [Alan Huffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-huffman/) > [“There is a tendency for people affected by this epidemic to police each other or prescribe what the most important gestures would be for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wojnarowicz/there-is-a-tendency-for-people-affected-by-this-epidemic-to-police/) [David Wojnarowicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wojnarowicz/) > [As a prosecutor and a senator, one of my main criminal justice priorities has been enforcing and reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-klobuchar/as-a-prosecutor-and-a-senator-one-of-my-main-criminal-justice/) [Amy Klobuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-klobuchar/) > [Biden's political positions have been evolving for decades, shifting more to the left on critical issues such as criminal justice reform, gay marriage, health…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-tarlov/biden-s-political-positions-have-been-evolving-for-decades-shifting/) [Jessica Tarlov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-tarlov/) > [We think of justice sometimes as getting what you deserve, you know - what crime was committed and what is the punishment for that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-claiborne/we-think-of-justice-sometimes-as-getting-what-you-deserve-you-know/) [Shane Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-claiborne/) > [Our criminal justice system has swallowed up too many people I love. I am proud to join the ACLU in the fight to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-k-williams/our-criminal-justice-system-has-swallowed-up-too-many-people-i-love-i/) [Michael K. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-k-williams/) > [Like a lot of people, I'm very, very concerned about Senator Clinton's record. I'm very, very concerned about where her positions were in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/like-a-lot-of-people-i-m-very-very-concerned-about-senator-clinton-s/) [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) > [The people who have been unjustly disenfranchised by our criminal justice system and the people who daily fight for them always have, and always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jenkins/the-people-who-have-been-unjustly-disenfranchised-by-our-criminal/) [Malcolm Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jenkins/) > [America's criminal justice system isn't known for rehabilitation. I'm not sure that, as a society, we are even interested in that concept anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/america-s-criminal-justice-system-isn-t-known-for-rehabilitation-i-m/) [Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) > [It's encouraging to watch bipartisan leaders from different states recognize the need for fair and rational legislation focused on creating second chances for those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-g-rubin/it-s-encouraging-to-watch-bipartisan-leaders-from-different-states/) [Michael G. Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-g-rubin/) > [“But a punishment like forced labour or even imprisonment – mere loss of liberty – has never functioned without a certain additional element of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-foucault/but-a-punishment-like-forced-labour-or-even-imprisonment-mere-loss-of/) [Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-foucault/) > [We need to incorporate that age-old concept of redemption into the work that we do in the criminal justice system in California.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamala-harris/we-need-to-incorporate-that-age-old-concept-of-redemption-into-the/) [Kamala Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamala-harris/) ## More by Perri Peltz > [I really do think for the vast majority of cases, doctors didn't think they were doing anything wrong - they were doing what was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perri-peltz/i-really-do-think-for-the-vast-majority-of-cases-doctors-didn-t-think/) [Perri Peltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perri-peltz/) > [Life expectancy for middle-aged white women has dropped dramatically over the past decade. Researchers didn't understand what was going on and so they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perri-peltz/life-expectancy-for-middle-aged-white-women-has-dropped-dramatically/) [Perri Peltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perri-peltz/) > [I hope 'Warning: This Drug May Kill You' documentary helps to show the humanity of the people who are struggling with the brain disease…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perri-peltz/i-hope-warning-this-drug-may-kill-you-documentary-helps-to-show-the/) [Perri Peltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perri-peltz/) > [We must do something to let people in this country know that addiction is something that can be treated and this epidemic of prescribed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perri-peltz/we-must-do-something-to-let-people-in-this-country-know-that/) [Perri Peltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perri-peltz/) > [We did decide that every addict in this film, Warning: This Drug May Kill You, would be someone who started out with a prescription…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perri-peltz/we-did-decide-that-every-addict-in-this-film-warning-this-drug-may/) [Perri Peltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perri-peltz/) > [I want to make it clear, though, that I am not trying to say these are bad drugs. Opioid medications in the short term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perri-peltz/i-want-to-make-it-clear-though-that-i-am-not-trying-to-say-these-are/) [Perri Peltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perri-peltz/) > [Addiction is a brain disease - this isn't a moral failing - and we have got to stop looking at it that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perri-peltz/addiction-is-a-brain-disease-this-isn-t-a-moral-failing-and-we-have/) [Perri Peltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perri-peltz/) > [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/) > [In 1999, Purdue Pharma the maker of OxyContin went on a massive marketing campaign. Back then, prescription opioids were only used in extreme cases…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perri-peltz/in-1999-purdue-pharma-the-maker-of-oxycontin-went-on-a-massive/) [Perri Peltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perri-peltz/) > [It seemed that the problem of Americans overdosing and dying from drug addiction was being described as bad people, particularly kids, who were abusing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perri-peltz/it-seemed-that-the-problem-of-americans-overdosing-and-dying-from/) [Perri Peltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perri-peltz/) > [There seems is predominantly a white person's drug addiction epidemic, so that's why you see white people in our film, Warning: This Drug May…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perri-peltz/there-seems-is-predominantly-a-white-person-s-drug-addiction-epidemic/) [Perri Peltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perri-peltz/) > [We can prevent more people from becoming more addicted - that's number one - with prescribing laws and making sure that people can't get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perri-peltz/we-can-prevent-more-people-from-becoming-more-addicted-that-s-number/) [Perri Peltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perri-peltz/) [Explore all 13 Perri Peltz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perri-peltz/) ## More Criminal justice quotes > [We need to incorporate that age-old concept of redemption into the work that we do in the criminal justice system in California.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamala-harris/we-need-to-incorporate-that-age-old-concept-of-redemption-into-the/) [Kamala Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamala-harris/) > [“But a punishment like forced labour or even imprisonment – mere loss of liberty – has never functioned without a certain additional element of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-foucault/but-a-punishment-like-forced-labour-or-even-imprisonment-mere-loss-of/) [Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-foucault/) > [It's encouraging to watch bipartisan leaders from different states recognize the need for fair and rational legislation focused on creating second chances for those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-g-rubin/it-s-encouraging-to-watch-bipartisan-leaders-from-different-states/) [Michael G. Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-g-rubin/) > [America's criminal justice system isn't known for rehabilitation. I'm not sure that, as a society, we are even interested in that concept anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/america-s-criminal-justice-system-isn-t-known-for-rehabilitation-i-m/) [Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) > [The people who have been unjustly disenfranchised by our criminal justice system and the people who daily fight for them always have, and always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jenkins/the-people-who-have-been-unjustly-disenfranchised-by-our-criminal/) [Malcolm Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jenkins/) > [Like a lot of people, I'm very, very concerned about Senator Clinton's record. I'm very, very concerned about where her positions were in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/like-a-lot-of-people-i-m-very-very-concerned-about-senator-clinton-s/) [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) > [Our criminal justice system has swallowed up too many people I love. I am proud to join the ACLU in the fight to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-k-williams/our-criminal-justice-system-has-swallowed-up-too-many-people-i-love-i/) [Michael K. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-k-williams/) > [We think of justice sometimes as getting what you deserve, you know - what crime was committed and what is the punishment for that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-claiborne/we-think-of-justice-sometimes-as-getting-what-you-deserve-you-know/) [Shane Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-claiborne/) > [Biden's political positions have been evolving for decades, shifting more to the left on critical issues such as criminal justice reform, gay marriage, health…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-tarlov/biden-s-political-positions-have-been-evolving-for-decades-shifting/) [Jessica Tarlov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-tarlov/) > [As a prosecutor and a senator, one of my main criminal justice priorities has been enforcing and reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-klobuchar/as-a-prosecutor-and-a-senator-one-of-my-main-criminal-justice/) [Amy Klobuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-klobuchar/) > [I think that we are in a position to continue to make progress, but it's gonna require us to both recognize what the problems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-that-we-are-in-a-position-to-continue-to-make-progress-but-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [A large portion of American citizens, especially people of color, have lost confidence in our criminal justice system. Many have called for appointing special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/a-large-portion-of-american-citizens-especially-people-of-color-have/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [Victims of crime and the wider community deserve a grown-up debate on our criminal justice system and how we can make it work -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadiq-khan/victims-of-crime-and-the-wider-community-deserve-a-grown-up-debate-on/) [Sadiq Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadiq-khan/) > [Whether or not we can save Lake Michigan, whether or not we can avoid a breakdown in our criminal justice system are more important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-scott/whether-or-not-we-can-save-lake-michigan-whether-or-not-we-can-avoid/) [Bill Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-scott/) > [I'm very mindful of the need to ensure we have a criminal justice system in which people have confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-grayling/i-m-very-mindful-of-the-need-to-ensure-we-have-a-criminal-justice/) [Chris Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-grayling/) [Browse all 336 Criminal justice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criminal-justice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We are having a public health response to this epidemic of prescription opioids. 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