(Center Square) – Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor announced on Thursday that the state would receive more than $780,000 in a settlement with Publicis Health as part of a $350 million national settlement.
The state will use the funds to address the effects of opioid misuse and the damage it has caused Alaska and its residents.
“Alaska has been hard hit by the opioid crisis,” said Taylor.
Publicis Health is a global marketing entity with 40 offices worldwide.
The filing in Anchorage detailed Publicis Health’s role in promoting opioid-based Schedule II or Schedule III controlled substances for companies like Allergan USA, Inc.; Endo Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson; McKesson; Purdue Pharma LP; and Teva Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
Among the most recognized addictive opioid drugs, OxyContin was branded by Publicis Health for its client Purdue Pharma by developing questionable sales tactics and was “instrumental in Purdue’s decision to market OxyContin to providers on patient’s electronic health records,” the governor’s office said.
As part of the settlement, Publicis Health agreed to “end any current and not accept any future engagements relating to the marketing, promotion, advertising, sale, prescribing, or use of any opioid or other opioid-based Schedule II or Schedule III controlled substance as listed pursuant to the federal Controlled Substance Act.”
Publicis Health is also prohibited “from offering its services to clients who sell or prescribe opioids or other opioid-based Schedule II or Schedule III controlled substances” or “clients who develop, and manufacture” and distribute them.
The Alaska Department of Health warns that more than 3 out of 5 drug overdoses in Alaska involve an opioid, 4 out of 5 heroin addicts started out by consuming prescription opioids and 7% of Alaska’s youth have used a prescription pain medication without a prescription.
Taylor’s latest settlement with Publicis Health is in line with Alaska’s ongoing efforts “to hold accountable those responsible for creating and fueling the crisis.” The settlement offsets costs expended by the state to address drug addiction.
“My office is determined to hold the companies that acted in bad faith accountable for their actions,” Talor said.
Attorney generals from all 50 states and the District of Columbia joined in this settlement.