"Addiction should never be treated as a crime. It has to be treated as a health problem. We do not send alcoholics to jail in this country. Over 500,000 people are in our jails who are nonviolent drug users"

This quote by Ralph Nader highlights the value of treating dependency as an illness, rather than a criminal activity. He explains that we do not send alcoholics to prison in this country, and yet there are over 500,000 people in our prisons who are nonviolent drug users. This recommends that we are criminalizing addiction, rather than treating it as a health concern. Nader's quote motivates us to think of how we can much better support those struggling with addiction, rather than punishing them. He recommends that we ought to concentrate on supplying resources and assistance to those battling with dependency, instead of criminalizing them. By doing this, we can help those dealing with addiction to get the assistance they need, rather than punishing them for their health problem.