SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Utah, as part of a 30-state coalition of attorneys general, reached a $1.37 billion settlement with Kroger over the national grocery chain’s alleged role in the opioid crisis.
Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes filed the lawsuit alongside the bipartisan coalition in 2022, alleging Kroger was the largest pharmacy buyer and dispenser of opioids in the state of Utah from 2006 to 2014. According to Reyes’ office, Kroger purchased and distributed or dispensed more than 140 million dosage units of oxycodone and hydrocodone. This reportedly accounted for more than 15% of the statewide volume of opioids.
Utah alleged Kroger also implemented policies that awarded pharmacists with bonuses and other perks based on the number and speed of prescriptions filled, including prescriptions for controlled substances.
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With the settlement in the lawsuit, Utah will receive approximately $45 million for opioid abatement, with payments expected to begin in early 2025.
“This recovery, combined with others the Utah AG’s Office has helped lead across America, now exceeds $500 million in settlement funds,” said Reyes. “These dollars will help liberate many caught in the cycle of addiction and prevent another generation of Utahns from ever becoming dependent on opioids in the first place.”
Reyes’ office said with approval from the Utah State Legislature, the funds paid to Utah will be shared with counties to be spent toward initiatives surrounding opioid use disorder treatment, recovery, and prevention.