Florida will receive $40 million from a recent $573 million settlement between McKinsey & Company and dozens of states for the global management consulting company’s role in the country’s ongoing opioid problems.
$558.9 million of the settlement between McKinsey and 47 states and five territories will be used to remediate the harms caused to the settling states and their citizens by the opioid epidemic and recover costs incurred by each state in investigating and pursuing the claims.
Public Accountability for Dangerous Sales Practices
Lawsuits filed across the country spurred the agreement after investigations showed that McKinsey worked to accelerate sales of Purdue Pharma’s powerful OxyContin pain medication during the opioid epidemic.
While communities were fighting against drug overdose deaths, McKinsey was allegedly developing strategies to market higher-dose and more-lucrative opioid prescriptions, according to Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody.
McKinsey settled with states but admitted to no wrongdoing in the agreement. The company did agree to implement restrictions on consulting about certain controlled substances and will create a public database including thousands of pages of documents related to drug sales and distribution.
Opioid Settlement in Florida
The agreement will help bring monetary assistance to Florida communities fighting opioid addiction problems and overdoses at a time when resources are stressed and limited, according to Attorney General Moody. Opioids kill 17 people every day in Florida making it a priority for Attorney General Moody who considers the devastating issue a public health emergency. 
The state saw a substantial increase in the number of deaths caused by the use of opioids in the past 20 years. In 2000, there were 350 deaths caused by heroin and prescription opioids, including OxyContin. In 2010, that increased to more than 2,000 deaths caused by prescription opioid pills.
Work by lawmakers, law enforcement, and substance abuse treatment providers all helped to decrease the number of deaths associated with prescription pills by 2012. Researchers note that these numbers were short-lived, with heroin returning as a leading cause of death along with a rise in fentanyl-related deaths.
Future Opioid Lawsuits in Florida
The state of Florida also has a pending lawsuit against pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors, and drug-store chains Walgreens Inc. and CVS, seeking an undisclosed amount of damages related to the opioid epidemic. A jury trial in this lawsuit is set to begin in April 2022.
At Panter, Panter & Sampedro, we are dedicated to Florida families and the safety of our community. If you think you or a loved one was affected by dangerous products or drugs, speak with our experienced team of attorneys. Call us for a free consultation today about your case at (305) 662-6178.
Sources:
News Service of Florida (2021, February 5). Florida to get $40 million in opioid settlement. Retrieved from:
https://floridatrend.com/article/30673/florida-to-get-40-million-in-opioid-settlement
Handberg, R. (May/June 2020). The Opioid Epidemic in Florida: 2000 to 2017. Retrieved from:
https://floridabar.org/the-florida-bar-journal/the-opioid-epidemic-in-florida-2000-to-2017/
