Kroger Settles Kentucky Lawsuit for $110 Million Over Opioid Crisis

Kentucky receives $110 million from Kroger to combat the opioid epidemic linked to the company's pharmacies fueling addiction.

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Summary

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Kroger has agreed to pay $110 million to Kentucky to settle a lawsuit accusing its pharmacies of contributing to the opioid crisis by dispensing 444 million doses. Attorney General Russell Coleman argued that Kroger allowed addiction to spread without sufficient monitoring and training for staff. The funds will be used for addiction prevention and recovery efforts in the state. Kentucky's overdose death rates remain high despite a decline in recent years, with nearly 2,000 deaths recorded in 2023. Kroger denied wrongdoing but sought to contribute to combating opioid abuse.

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Highlights (3)

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Kroger's actions in Kentucky demonstrate a significant disregard for the ongoing opioid crisis, and the settlement underscores the urgent need for accountability among companies that contribute to this public health emergency.
Kroger agrees to pay $110M to Kentucky in opioid settlement
The Hill
Reliable
The underlying sources consistently report facts with minimal bias. They demonstrate high-quality journalism and accuracy across multiple articles.
·Center
Instead, Kroger continued to ship massive quantities of opioids throughout the state, failed to report suspicious orders to authorities and continued to dispense addictive drugs at "alarming" rates in Kentucky, which was hard-hit by the drug-addiction epidemic, according to the lawsuit.
Kroger to pay $110 million to resolve Kentucky lawsuit over opioid epidemic
CNBC
Reliable
The underlying sources consistently report facts with minimal bias. They demonstrate high-quality journalism and accuracy across multiple articles.
·Center
This massive grocery chain that asked for our trust and our business allowed the fire of addiction to spread across the commonwealth, leaving pain and leaving so much brokenness in its aftermath.
Kentucky reaches $110 million deal with Kroger to settle its opioid lawsuit
Associated Press
Reliable
The underlying sources consistently report facts with minimal bias. They demonstrate high-quality journalism and accuracy across multiple articles.
·Center