Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman announced a $350 million multistate settlement with advertising agency Publicis Health for its role in promulgating the opioid crisis.
Publicis developed sales tactics and messaging to help Purdue Pharma surge opioid pill sales, including OxyCotin, according to court filings. Publicis was also instrumental in Purdue’s decision to market OxyContin to providers on patient’s electronic health records.
Specifically, the state of Kentucky will receive $6.8 million to help families and communities in their recovery efforts.
“No Kentucky community has escaped the pain of the drug crisis, and it’s well past time that the companies at the center of the addiction business are held accountable,” Coleman said in a press release. “This settlement will bring needed resources to Kentucky’s fight against addiction and support our needed three-legged stool of prevention, treatment and enforcement initiatives. I’m particularly grateful to my predecessor, Attorney General Cameron, for his leadership in holding accountable companies at the center of the drug crisis.”
The settlement was reached between a coalition of attorneys general from all states, territories and the District of Columbia and Publicis in recognition of the harm this conduct caused. To date, Kentucky has secured approximately $900 million in settlement funds from pharmaceutical companies regarding the opioid crisis.