McKinsey & Co. to Pay $650M to Settle Opioid Marketing Case

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    Above: The McKinsey and Company logo is displayed at their pavilion during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, on Feb. 28, 2024. Image copyright: Joan Cros/Contributor/NurPhoto via Getty Images

    The Facts

    • Consulting firm McKinsey & Company has agreed to pay $650M to resolve a US federal criminal investigation regarding its consulting work with Purdue Pharma's OxyContin sales.

    • The consulting firm was charged with knowingly and intentionally conspiring with Purdue Pharma to aid and abet the misbranding of prescription drugs without valid prescriptions.

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    The Spin

    Pro-establishment narrative

    McKinsey's $650M settlement for turbocharging OxyContin sales marks long-awaited justice for opioid victims. As the first criminal charges against a consulting firm for client advice, this shows the Justice Department's resolve to hold all accountable. Ceasing controlled substance work and new compliance measures will also help prevent future harm, signaling that profiting from public health crises has consequences.

    Justice

    Establishment-critical narrative

    $650M for fueling the opioid crisis is a mere drop in the bucket compared to its vast influence and profits. The same government responsible for regulating McKinsey also enables these corporate crimes through lax oversight and revolving doors between regulators and industry. McKinsey's history of shady dealings, from Enron to Rikers Island to Saudi Arabia shows it rarely faces real consequences.

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