Kroger Ordered to Pay Washington State $47.5M for Its Role in the Opioid Crisis

Kroger has agreed to pay $47.5 million to Washington state as part of its settlement over its involvement in the opioid crisis, Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced on Tuesday. The lawsuit, filed in December 2022, accused the Cincinnati-based retailer of “illegally, recklessly, and negligently” filling opioid orders without adequately investigating signs of fraud or overprescribing. This settlement is part of a broader effort by the state to hold pharmacies accountable for their role in the opioid epidemic, which has cost the state billions.

The $47.5 million payment will be distributed between Washington state and local city and county governments. Washington has already collected $1.29 billion related to the opioid crisis, with funds used to combat the effects of the epidemic. The payment will be made over 11 years, with an initial payment of $4.3 million expected soon after the resolution is finalized.

This lawsuit is part of Kroger’s ongoing legal battles related to its involvement in the opioid crisis. In February 2024, Kentucky filed a similar lawsuit, accusing the retailer of distributing hundreds of millions of opioid pills to its residents without proper safeguards between 2006 and 2019. The Kentucky lawsuit claims that Kroger’s pharmacies in the state dispensed around 11% of all opioid pills, highlighting the company’s failure to act on “red flags” regarding suspicious prescriptions.

In addition to the recent settlements, Kroger also reached a $68 million settlement with West Virginia in May 2023 over similar allegations. These legal actions reflect the increasing pressure on pharmacies and healthcare providers to address their role in the opioid epidemic, which has had devastating impacts on communities across the United States.