Minnesota is set to receive around $4.45 million as part of a $350 million national settlement with Publicis Health for its role in marketing and promoting OxyContin and other opioid pain medications.
The settlement was announced by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on Friday. According to a news release from Ellison’s office, the funds from the settlement will go towards addressing the ongoing opioid crisis in Minnesota.
“It is hard to overstate the suffering that Publicis and corporations like them, who lined their pockets by pushing dangerous and addictive opioids, caused Minnesotans,” said Ellison in the release. “While today’s settlement cannot undo that damage, it is important to hold them accountable.”
Publicis Health is the healthcare communications division of the global marketing firm Publicis. The company acted as the advertising agency for Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of OxyContin.
As part of the settlement, Publicis has agreed to publish internal documents detailing its promotional work on behalf of opioid makers. The company will also cease working on campaigns related to opioid medications.