Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman announced on Thursday that the Kroger Company (KR) has agreed to a $110 million settlement with the State of Kentucky. This payment addresses Kroger's alleged role in distributing opioids without proper safety measures.
The settlement funds will be divided equally, with 50% allocated to local governments and the remaining 50% directed to the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Commission. This distribution aims to support efforts to combat addiction throughout the state.
Kentucky has been profoundly affected by the opioid crisis, with a reported 1,984 overdose deaths in 2023 alone. In the lawsuit initiated by Coleman in February 2024, it was claimed that from 2006 to 2019, more than 100 Kroger pharmacies were responsible for dispensing over 11% of all opioid prescriptions in Kentucky.
The funds from this settlement will bolster initiatives to address addiction, with oversight from the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Commission, established in 2022. The commission has already played a vital role in managing opioid settlement payments and distributing millions to alleviate the crisis.
