Oklahoma's response to the national fight against the opioid crisis is critical and should be applauded, physicians said Thursday.

Dr. Larry Bookman, president-elect of the Oklahoma State Medical Association, praised efforts to combat proliferation of the drug that causes hundreds of deaths a year in the state.

"Oklahoma is at the center of the national fight against opioid crisis in this country," said Bookman. "The fight is vital for the state and for the country."

Bookman noted the struggle of victims of the opioid crisis as well as that of doctors, whom he labeled as victims in the pharmaceutical industry's scheme to sell the drugs.