Consulting giant McKinsey & Company has entered into a $573 million settlement over allegations it provided advice that helped opioid manufacturer Purdue Pharma boost sales while fending off oversight during a national drug epidemic, writes Catherine Dunn for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The settlement was reached with 47 state attorneys general, including Pennsylvania A.G. Josh Shapiro. As the result, the Keystone State will receive $25,755,365 of the agreed-upon money.

Pennsylvania had one of the highest rates of drug overdose deaths nationwide in 2018, according to the most recent available CDC figures.

Pennsylvania along with other states spent years investigating, suing, and negotiating settlements with opioid manufacturers and distributors, however this settlement with the consulting giant is a milestone.

This is the “first multi-state opioid settlement to result in substantial payment to the states to address the epidemic,” said the attorney general’s office.

According to Shapiro’s office, the money will be used to abate “opioid-related problems.”

This includes supporting the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs that address treatment and prevention, said Shapiro.

Shapiro is currently leading negotiations with major prescription drug distributors to secure a settlement that could potentially be worth billions to states.

Read more about the settlement at The Philadelphia Inquirer by clicking here.