AG Mike Hunter speaks out amid Oklahoma's trial against opioid makers
Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter spoke out during the second week of the state's lawsuit against opioid manufacturers, saying the company Johnson & Johnson helped fuel the crisis.
"At the height of the opioid epidemic, 2009 to 2011, Johnson & Johnson targeted over 140,000 Oklahoma doctors," Hunter said Tuesday.
That's the number of sales Hunter said came from Johnson & Johnson sales representatives to physicians, pushing opioids at the height of the crisis.
"We also believe it's clear with the regard to Johnson & Johnson sales representatives presenting themselves as pain experts, although they have no training in addiction science," Hunter said.
Based on testimony so far, Hunter said it's clear doctors were influenced, targeted and hooked into buying opioids.
"The defendants used data mining to influence doctors who were high-frequency prescribers in the state," he said.
Hunter claimed the drug maker misrepresented the benefits and risks of opioids. Johnson & Johnson officials deny any wrongdoing.
The trial is expected to last six more weeks.