Oklahoma To Receive Nearly $9M From Consulting Firm For Role In Opioid Epidemic

The state of Oklahoma has reached a multi-million dollar settlement with a consulting firm for its role in the opioid epidemic. It comes after multiple states investigated the consulting firm, McKinsey and Company.

State officials say McKinsey and Company advised opioid companies on how to promote and create market strategies for addictive drugs to increase sales.

The state of Oklahoma will get nearly $9 million as part of a settlement with McKinsey and Company. The money will go to the state treasury account created to receive opioid settlement money.

According to the agreement, the money must be used by the state to fight the opioid epidemic.

Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter said McKinsey's actions played a significant role in the opioid epidemic.

During the state's 2019 trial against Johnson and Johnson, the state showed evidence of presentations made by McKinsey to Johnson and Johnson, which showed the company how to target high risk patients and doctors who prescribed a large number of opioids.

McKinsey has since apologized for its role in the opioid epidemic.