JUDY WOODRUFF: The opioids crisis that has taken hundreds of thousands of American lives
has gotten less attention during the pandemic, but it's no less dangerous.
In fact, the CDC says drug overdoses and deaths have grown substantially since the pandemic began.
Now one of the world's most powerful corporate consulting firms has agreed
to a major settlement for its role and trying to -- quote -- "turbocharge" sales of painkillers.
Stephanie Sy has our update
STEPHANIE SY: Good evening, Judy.
The settlement holds McKinsey & Company financially accountable for its extensive
work with Purdue Pharma and other drugmakers to aggressively market highly addictive painkillers.
The agreement allocates $573 million to 47 states, the District of Columbia,
and five U.S. territories to fund opioid treatment, recovery and prevention programs.
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey has been leading
the legal battles against McKinsey and Purdue Pharma, and joins me now.
Madam Attorney General, it's a pleasure having you on the "NewsHour."
I want to dive right in.
The velocity,
the breadth of the opioid epidemic and how many American lives it has devastated is astounding.
How much of that would you ascribe to McKinsey consultants' strategies to sell more OxyContin?
MAURA HEALEY, Massachusetts Attorney General: Well, Stephanie, what my office's investigation
uncovered is that, in fact, McKinsey was right at the heart of things.
McKinsey, to be clear, what our investigation uncovered was consulting with the Sacklers and
Purdue. They were instructing them on how to boost OxyContin sales,
how to get doctors to prescribe more and more to patients.
McKinsey consultants actually rode along with, went with Purdue sales reps to doctor's offices
here in Massachusetts to critique them on how effective they were at selling
OxyContin. McKinsey advised Purdue how to avoid FDA and pharmacy restrictions.
They later advised Purdue on how to enter the market for opioid rescue and treatment
medications, because McKinsey knew that people were overdosing and dying and getting sick
from OxyContin. So, McKinsey's fingers are all over this. It's why we came together as states.
This is the first multistate resolution that will return, importantly, millions
and millions of dollars to our states right away that we're going to use directly for treatment.
And, also importantly, Stephanie, we did something for the first time, set up an online document
repository where, in months' time, everyone in the country, researchers, the press, the public,
will be able to see McKinsey's e-mails, memos, and the individuals who were involved in this effort.
STEPHANIE SY: One of the more egregious tactics that the complaint alleges
was proposed by McKinsey consultants
was giving the idea to give rebates to pharmacies when their customers overdosed on OxyContin.
Now, there's no evidence that that was actually enacted, but, Madam Attorney General,
what does that tell you about these entities' desire for profit at all costs?
MAURA HEALEY: It's exactly that, profit at all costs.
McKinsey consultants were about the business of advising their clients
on how to make as much money as possible from this deadly epidemic. It shows a callousness
that really is beyond the pale. And it's why McKinsey needs to be held accountable.
The fact that they knew -- I mean, they knew how dangerous these opioids were, that they
went so far as to try to propose to Purdue how it could pay insurance companies rebates for every
patient who O.D.ed on OxyContin is gross. It's disturbing. And, today, there is a reckoning and
an accountability that our families, Stephanie, in Massachusetts and all across this country deserve.
Those who engaged in acts and perpetrated such wrong against so many families
need to be held accountable. And McKinsey was right there part of it.
STEPHANIE SY: And we should say that McKinsey issued a rare apology, saying:
"We recognize that we did not adequately acknowledge the epidemic unfolding in our
communities. We want to be part of the solution."
However, they never explicitly acknowledged any wrongdoing or illegality.
So, I want to ask you, are you planning any further complaints,
criminal complaints, against McKinsey individuals?
MAURA HEALEY: Well, Stephanie, our agreement does not release
any criminal claims. And I cannot speak to the status of any criminal investigations.
What I will say, though, is that this agreement -- remember, we filed a complaint
in every state in this country. We filed a consent judgment in the states. And you will see in time,
with the documents, it will be very clear to the public exactly what McKinsey did.
So, the apology is a little too late for the families who lost loved ones to this disease,
to this epidemic, and to the families who are struggling every day. Yes, we have COVID,
and that is, understandably, taking the front pages, but
this crisis, this opioid crisis, has not gone away. It's gotten worse, in fact.
And so McKinsey needs to pay up. They're paying up big time with this nearly $600 million
consent judgment, where that money is going to go right into our states,
so that we can use that money to help treat people, to help with the recovery effort.
But I hope it sends a message loud and clear to those entities out there who
are willing, it seems, all too willing to put profits ahead of people. There's
a price for that. And I'm proud of the work of state attorneys...
STEPHANIE SY: Yes, and I know, Attorney General, that you are continuing to
pursue a case against Purdue Pharma as well.
We will have to leave it there.
But, Maura Healey, the attorney general from the great state of Massachusetts,
thank you so much for joining us.
MAURA HEALEY: Good to be with you, Stephanie. Thank you.