Opioid trial: State questions representative about effectiveness of prevention program
A weeklong stretch of testimony in the Oklahoma's opioid trial came to a close Wednesday, with a representative for Johnson & Johnson answering hundreds of questions from the state and her company's attorney at the Cleveland County Courthouse.
The state continued to slowly put together its argument, claiming that Johnson & Johnson is at least partially responsible for the opioid crisis in Oklahoma. Johnson & Johnson executive Kimberly Deem-Eshleman testified about a drug abuse prevention program that visited Boulevard Academy in Edmond.
A state lawyer asked her if the program in Edmond worked and if it helped even one child.
"Again, I'm not sure if there were multiple programs. The only example I have is the Edmond example," Deem-Eshleman said.
The state argues that Johnson & Johnson misrepresented opioids when the company marketed them to doctors in thousands of sales calls in Oklahoma. They also asked Deem-Eshleman about what the company did and did not do.
Brad Beckworth: "There's one thing worse than causing an opioid crisis, isn't there?"
Deem-Eshleman: "What?"
Beckworth: "To cut and run and take your money and not spend a single dime in this state to help us clean it up, right?"
Deem-Eshleman: "I don't believe that."
Johnson & Johnson officials said they were educating doctors on government-approved legal medications.
The trial is expected to continue for several more weeks.