French advertising group Publicis has agreed to pay $350 million to settle allegations that its health division was involved in promoting opioids and fueling the opioid crisis in the United States. This settlement, announced by New York attorney-general Letitia James, marks the first time US prosecutors have taken action against an advertising agency for its role in the crisis, which has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people.
Publicis Health, a division of the agency, worked with opioid manufacturer Purdue Pharma from 2010 to 2019 to create advertising campaigns for drugs like OxyContin. The company has denied any wrongdoing and stated that the settlement is not an admission of liability. The settlement will see $343 million going towards opioid relief programs in various US states, with an additional $7 million covering legal costs.
The opioid crisis in the US has had devastating effects, with over 645,000 deaths reported between 1999 and 2021. Purdue Pharma, which is under the ownership of the Sackler family, has faced numerous lawsuits for its role in promoting the widespread use of opioids. Publicis Health was involved in producing advertising materials that falsely claimed opioids were safe and non-addictive.
As one of the world’s largest advertising agencies, Publicis is facing repercussions for its involvement in promoting opioids. The company has stated that while its work with pharmaceutical companies was legal, it recognizes the broader impact of the opioid crisis and has decided to avoid any future projects related to opioids.
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