Kroger Settles for $110 Million in Opioid Case

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman announced a $110 million settlement with Kroger, addressing the company's significant role in the opioid crisis by distributing over 444 million doses of opioids from 2006 to 2019. The settlement follows a lawsuit filed in February 2024, which alleged that Kroger's pharmacies lacked adequate internal monitoring systems to track suspicious prescriptions, contributing to the state's addiction epidemic. Half of the settlement funds will be allocated to local governments, while the other half will be managed by the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Commission to support addiction treatment efforts. Coleman emphasized the need for accountability in addressing the opioid crisis, which has led to nearly 2,000 overdose deaths in Kentucky in 2023 alone. This settlement is considered one of the largest opioid settlements in Kentucky's history and reflects ongoing efforts to mitigate the impact of the opioid epidemic on communities across the state.