Fighting the Opioid Epidemic in Minnesota

The Opioid Crisis in Minnesota

Minnesotans have suffered tremendously from the opioid epidemic. Opioid overdose deaths have increased dramatically over the past several years. Data from the Minnesota Department of Health shows that in 2023, 1,011 Minnesotans died from an opioid-involved overdose. 

Additional data on the opioid epidemic in Minnesota can be found on Minnesota Department of Health’s drug overdose dashboard, located here. The dashboard contains detailed information on overdose deaths, opioid-related hospital visits, the number of opioid prescriptions dispensed, the prevalence of substance use disorder, and more. It also includes links to sources where some of the above-referenced data can be tracked on a county-level.

Opioid Settlements

The Attorney General’s Office has taken legal action to hold opioid manufacturers, distributors, pharmacies, consulting firms, and individuals accountable for their conduct in creating this crisis, and to seek recovery of funds that can be used to address the issue. More information about the legal action taken by the Attorney General’s Office can be found below. Although lawsuits will never remedy the pain and tragedy Minnesotans have suffered, and no amount of money will ever be enough to make Minnesota families and communities whole for the death and destruction that these opioid companies have caused, the justice system can help us fix the many problems caused by this crisis. That is why the Attorney General’s Office has worked to reach settlements, which will deliver the maximum possible amount of value, transparency, and accountability.

In addition to the public matters referenced below, the Attorney General’s Office continues to be engaged in multistate investigations and settlement negotiations with numerous other companies for violations of state consumer protection laws. The Office is leading nationwide efforts to ensure public disclosure of opioid-related documents, which are designed to achieve accountability, transparency, and prevention of future harm. 

Attorney General Ellison’s office has reached numerous major settlements with opioid companies to hold these companies accountable for their role in creating and perpetuating the devastating opioid epidemic.

In July 2021, the Attorney General’s Office joined historic $26 billion multistate settlement agreements with pharmaceutical distributors McKesson, Cardinal Health, and AmerisourceBergen, and opioid manufacturer Johnson & Johnson.  These settlements will bring more than $300 million into Minnesota over the next 18 years to fight the opioid crisis. 

In December 2021, the Attorney General’s Office reached an agreement with Minnesota cities and counties on how funds from these settlements will be allocated:  75% to counties and cities, and 25% to the State.  The agreement also details how the funds can be used to combat the opioid crisis, including detailed programs and strategies focused on treatment, prevention, and harm reduction. 

In December 2022, the Attorney General’s Office joined five additional multistate settlements worth $20.4 billion with major opioid manufacturers Teva Pharmaceuticals and Allergan, and three of the nation’s largest retail pharmacy chains—Walmart, CVS, and Walgreens.  Minnesota’s share of these settlements is around $243 million. 

In 2023, the agreement with cities and counties was amended to apply to the five additional settlements above.

In June 2025, the Attorney General’s Office joined an additional multistate settlement worth up to $7.4 billion with opioids manufacturer Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family.  This settlement is awaiting court approval, and if approved will bring approximately $59 million to the State.  The settlement will resolve the State’s lawsuit against Purdue and the Sacklers.    

In July 2025, the Attorney General’s Office joined additional multistate settlements worth up to $720 million with eight opioid manufacturers.  These settlements are awaiting court approval, and if approved will bring approximately $9 million to the State. 

The parties to these settlements are states and cities and counties. Tribal nations have negotiated their own separate settlements. Additional information on the tribal settlements can be found here.

Details on opioid settlement payment amounts for cities and counties can be found here.   

In addition to the settlements detailed above, Attorney General Ellison’s Office has reached settlements with the following companies:  opioid manufacturers Insys in January 2020, Mallinckrodt in October 2020, and Endo in August 2022; and consulting and marketing firms McKinsey in February 2021 and Publicis in February 2024.   

Contact Information

If you have questions about the settlements or any other opioid-related issues, please send an email to opioids@ag.state.mn.us to contact the Attorney General’s Office.  You can also call the Attorney General’s Office Opioid Issues phone line at (612) 429-7126 and leave a message regarding any questions you have or any additional information you would like, and someone will get back to you.