Tate has become the latest institution to turn its back on cash from a family that is accused of making a fortune from the deadly US opioid crisis. The Sackler family is facing legal action over its production of a painkiller implicated in thousands of deaths and pressure has been growing on institutions to reject money from their trusts. The Sacklers have donated about £80 million in Britain over the past two decades to cultural, religious, educational and health bodies. Tate said that “in the present circumstances we do not think it right to seek or accept further donations from the Sacklers”. The family stand accused of misleading regulators about the dangers of Oxycontin, a prescription painkiller that made their company, Purdue Pharma, billions of
UK - based art gallery Tate has rejected a £ 1 m ( $ 1.3 m ) grant from the National Trust following a campaign against the Sackler family , which faces legal challenges over the global opioid crisis . The family , which runs Purdue Pharma , is accused of misleading regulators over the safety of its multi - billion dollar painkiller OxyContin , which has played a large role in the deaths of three people from opioid addiction in two years . The Sackler family has donated roughly £ 80 m to UK cultural institutions over 20 years , including the V&A and Westminster Abbey . The National Portrait Gallery has also refused the Trust 's £ 1 m donation .