The opioid epidemic is one of the most devastating public health crises in American history.

Sadly, the crisis was a man-made disaster fueled by corporate greed, deception and negligence. As we continue to rebound in Butler County from our struggle with this brutal enemy, the companies responsible for exacerbating the catastrophe have not gone away.

The national consulting firm of McKinsey & Company recently paid more than $650 million to settle a federal probe into its marketing practices with opioids. McKinsey counseled pharmaceutical giant Purdue Pharma on how to boost the sales of an addictive drug, while simultaneously advising the federal Department of Veterans Affairs on how to best treat our American heroes.

Unfortunately, profits were prioritized over lives.

While this settlement is important, it is just one piece of the puzzle. Purdue Pharma and McKinsey aren’t the only culprits — many other pharmaceutical companies, distributors and health care providers played similar roles. There is a broader pattern of corporate influence that has undermined public health for far too long.

Holding corporations accountable for their role in the opioid epidemic is not just a moral imperative; it is necessary to ensure we never experience another similar public health disaster. With accountability, public health is valued over corporate revenues, families can heal and the systems that allowed the crisis to unfold are reformed.

The work is ongoing, but the recent McKinsey settlement proves that change is possible — and that accountability matters.

Kevin Boozel, Butler County commissioner