Ellison announces $350 million settlement with Publicis over role in opioid epidemic

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced on Friday that a $350 million national settlement with Publicis Health has been reached to resolve investigations into the global marketing and communications firm’s role in the prescription opioid crisis. Minnesota will receive roughly $4,450,000 from the settlement with the funds being used to help address the opioid crisis.

In agreeing to the terms of the settlement, Publicis Health has to recognize the harm its conduct caused, and the agreement will give communities hit hardest by the opioid crisis more financial support for treatment and recovery to save lives. The company will also disclose on a public website thousands of internal documents detailing its work for opioid companies like Purdue Pharma and will stop accepting client work related to opioid-based Schedule II drugs and Schedule III controlled substances.
In total Minnesota has received over $564 million in opioid related settlements.