In this photo taken Feb. 3, 2015, Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville, speaks at a forum in Nashville. (AP Photo/Erik Schelzig)

By Mike Reicher, USA TODAY NETWORK — Tennessee

Tennessee politicians received more than $1.6 million in campaign contributions over the past decade from pharmaceutical companies and other members of the Pain Care Forum, a coalition that meets monthly to discuss opioid-related issues. An investigation by The Associated Press and the Center for Public Integrity examined the industry’s influence at statehouses around the nation. About $560,000 went to Tennessee state candidates and state political parties, and more than $1 million went to those running for federal office.

Since 2006, Tennessee legislators have introduced at least 41 bills that dealt with opioids, about half of which passed. Here are the top five current Tennessee lawmakers who received the industry money from 2006 through 2015, according to a Tennessean analysis of data from the National Institute on Money in State Politics, the Center for Responsive Politics and the Federal Election Commission.

Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville: $24,025

The outgoing lieutenant governor, Ramsey was seen as one of the most influential figures in state government whose support or opposition could easily determine the fate of bills. As speaker of the Senate since 2007, though, he could not introduce his own legislation. The pharma money, he said, was “a drop in the bucket” in his campaign coffers. And its influence on his votes? “None whatsoever.”

Rep. Charles Sargent, Jr., R-Franklin: $16,425

In 2010, Sargent sponsored a bill that authorized physicians to refer workers' compensation patients for “pain management” treatment and limited their treatment to one year. An amendment extended the time to two years. Sargent said his contributions didn’t play a role: “I couldn’t even tell you who makes the opioid drugs.”

House Speaker Beth Harwell, R-Nashville: $10,000

As speaker of the House of Representatives since 2011, Harwell doesn’t introduce her own bills, but her stance on legislation can prove pivotal. “I have a very strong record,” she said on combating the opioid addiction epidemic.

Sen. Jack Johnson, R-Franklin: $9,925

In 2012 Johnson sponsored a bill that enabled physicians to prescribe pain medication to workers' compensation patients who experienced pain beyond the expected treatment time. “We take money from a lot of different people,” said Johnson, chairman of the powerful Commerce and Labor Committee. “I don’t keep track of it.” He added that he’s opposed some bills pushed by the drug industry.

Sen. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge: $9,900

McNally has sponsored four opioid-related bills since 2006, two of which passed. The most recent required that all pain management clinics be licensed. In 2011 he introduced legislation that would have required insurers to cover “tamper-resistant” opioids. While that bill failed, it could have boosted drug company profits because most tamper-resistant opioids have no generic equivalent. Evidence, too, is mixed on whether those formulations actually prevent abuse. “You balance out the good effects against the bad,” he said. “Overall, we thought it was good.”

Top 5 big pharma players in Tenn. politics

While most opioids are made by large generics makers, some U.S. drug companies market opioids — and are active in state politics. Here are the top five contributors in Tennessee that also are members of the Pain Care Forum, an opioid advocacy group. To be sure, pharmaceutical companies donate to political campaigns and employ lobbyists for a range of legislative issues, including opioids. These totals include contributions to Tennessee candidates and state parties from 2006 to 2015.

Pfizer, $227,150: The company promotes Embeda, which Pfizer acquired when it bought King Pharmaceuticals in 2011. Pfizer also is seeking FDA approval for a long-acting drug with abuse-resistant properties called Troxyca ER.

Merck & Co., $102,900: Merck is not known for any major opioid-based drugs, but it's an active player behind the scenes on medical-related legislative issues.

Abbott Laboratories, $97,025: The longtime maker of Vicodin, the widespread drug used to treat extreme pain. It’s a mixture of the opioid hydrocodone and the primary ingredient in Tylenol. Abbott spun off its pharmaceutical wing into an independent company called AbbVie in January 2013.

King Pharmaceuticals, $73,500: Known primarily for its tamper-resistant formulations of opioids, Bristol, Tenn.-based King was acquired by Pfizer in 2011.

Johnson & Johnson, $25,425: In 2015, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, announced that it sold the U.S. rights to license opioid-based Nucynta for $1.05 billion.

Sources: National Institute on Money in State Politics, the Center for Responsive Politics, the Federal Election Commission