Florida is among the states suing McKinsey & Company for their part in the opioid epidemic that has plagued the US for decades. The US has reported 67,367 drug overdose deaths in the latest reporting year. Nearly 70% of all overdose deaths were opioid-related. The epidemic has reached critical numbers in the last few years, pushing Attorney Generals of 47 states and the District of Columbia to take action. McKinsey & Company has been accused of “turbo-charging” opioid use by consulting various pharmaceutical companies on maximizing their profits at the expense of the patient’s welfare. McKinsey & Company has agreed to turn over internal documents in a historic settlement and pay out nearly $600 million to states and territories affected.
With over 50 years of experience, the award-winning attorneys at Colson, Hicks, Eidson are here for you. If you need a pharmaceutical attorney in Miami, Florida, you need the nationally recognized Colson, Hicks, Eidson.
Florida’s War with Opioids
Florida’s opioid-related fatalities have skyrocketed since 2015. According to the data collected by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and Drug
- 68% of drug overdose deaths reported in Florida involved opioids
- Providers wrote an estimated 53.7 opioid prescriptions for every 100 patients, higher than the national average of just 51.4.
Overdose deaths are accelerating during the epidemic. There were over 81,000 overdose deaths in the 12 months ending in May 2020. This is the highest ever recorded in a 12-month period. The CDC has found that:
- 37 of 38 US jurisdictions that have synthetic opioid data reported are seeing an increase in synthetic opioid-involved deaths
- In 18 of those jurisdictions, the overdose deaths had increased over 50%
- 10 western states have seen an increase of over 98%
The recent settlement with McKinsey will give Florida the funds it needs to help battle the crisis.
How Did the Opioid Crisis Happen?
The attorneys at Colson, Hicks, Eidson are no stranger to large-scale suits. They have successfully argued against United Healthcare, settling for $1.4 million. Colson, Hicks, Eidson have argued against many big companies for maximizing profits over a person’s wellbeing.
In the case of the opioid epidemic, McKinsey & Company have contributed to the crisis through marketing schemes aimed at increasing opioid prescriptions and evading restrictions on high-dose prescriptions.
- In the late 1990s, pharmaceutical companies told the medical community that their opioid prescriptions were not addictive.
- This lead to healthcare professionals prescribing them at higher doses and greater rates
- There was widespread misuse of the opioid pain relievers and overdose deaths
- 21-29% of patients on opioid pain medication abused them
- 8-12% of people developed an opioid disorder
- 4-6% of abuses transitioned to heroin
The crisis has gotten the attention it deserves. Those who have aided in the epidemic are paying Florida in the millions. Pharmaceutical negligence on this scale shouldn’t be ignored. If you have lost a loved one due to a medical provider’s careless acts, call Colson, Hicks, Eidson today. You may be entitled to compensation for medical malpractice.
The Nationally Recognized Colson, Hicks, Eidson
If you or someone you love has suffered due to a pharmaceutical provider’s negligence, you need a pharmaceutical attorney in Miami, Florida. Contact the aggressive attorneys at Colson, Hicks, Eidson for a free consultation by clicking here or calling us at 305-476-7400.
