Kroger has agreed to pay $110 million to settle a lawsuit filed by the state of Kentucky, which accused the supermarket chain's pharmacies of contributing to the state's opioid crisis. Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman announced the settlement on January 9, 2025. The state had opted out of a broader $1.4 billion deal Kroger reached in 2024 with 30 other states, municipalities, and Native American tribes. The lawsuit claimed that over 13 years, Kroger’s pharmacies in Kentucky dispensed about 444 million opioid doses, which represented 11% of all opioid pills given in the state between 2006 and 2019.
The lawsuit alleged that Kroger ignored red flags, such as suspiciously high prescription numbers, and failed to prevent the diversion of opioids for illicit use. Despite knowing the risks, the company continued to distribute large quantities of opioids and failed to report suspicious orders. Kroger, based in Cincinnati, did not admit any wrongdoing as part of the settlement but expressed hope that the funds would be used to address opioid addiction in Kentucky. This settlement is part of broader efforts, with drug manufacturers and distributors agreeing to pay billions to resolve similar claims related to the opioid epidemic.
