Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall says as part of a new $350 million national settlement, Alabama will receive nearly $5.5 million to help combat the opioid crisis plaguing the state. It was announced that it would happen.

Marshall's office said the settlement means Publicis Health, a global marketing and communications firm that worked with several opioid companies, found that its actions harmed the public. This was done in response to approval. As part of the settlement, the company will also release thousands of internal documents detailing its work with opioid companies such as Purdue Pharma on its public website. Additionally, we will stop accepting any client work involving opioid-based Schedule II or other Schedule III controlled substances.

“Alabama remains steadfast in its multifaceted commitment to engaging all contributors to the opioid epidemic, including manufacturing, distribution, prescribing and marketing,” Marshall said. “Publicsis plays a vital role in promoting these drugs, encouraging overprescription, fostering addiction, and tragically resulting in the loss of many lives.

“Our efforts to end this epidemic know no bounds, and we will relentlessly pursue justice to help Alabama recover from the severe social consequences caused by the collective actions of the opioid industry and its participants. To go.”

Court filings in Montgomery County Circuit Court describe how Publicis' activities contributed to the crisis by helping Purdue Pharma and other opioid manufacturers market and sell opioids. Court documents also describe how Publicis acts as Purdue's agent of record for all of its branded opioid drugs, including OxyContin, and provides information within its private health offices between patients and health care providers. It also details how the company developed a sales tactic that relied on collecting data gleaned from recorded conversations. Marshall said. The company played a key role in Purdue's decision to also sell OxyContin to patients' electronic medical record providers.

Marshall said the state has reached settlements totaling more than $500 million with pharmaceutical companies and other related companies for their roles in the crisis.

Austin Shipley is a staff writer at Yellowhammer News.