Overview

• Publicis Health, part of the French media conglomerate Publicis Groupe, agreed to pay $350 million to settle claims related to its marketing of opioids, marking the first major settlement involving an advertising company in the opioid crisis.
• The settlement, negotiated with U.S. state attorneys general, requires Publicis Health to pay the amount within 60 days and prohibits the company from taking on any future opioid-related marketing projects.
• Publicis Health's marketing strategies for Purdue Pharma, including the promotion of OxyContin, were accused of contributing to the opioid epidemic by encouraging overprescription and misleading about the drugs' safety.
• The settlement includes the release of internal documents detailing Publicis Health's work for Purdue Pharma and other opioid manufacturers, providing insight into the marketing practices that fueled the crisis.
• States will use the settlement funds primarily for opioid abatement, treatment, and prevention efforts, as the nation continues to grapple with the devastating impact of the opioid epidemic.