Utah gets millions from Kroger over Chain’s role in the opioid crisis

SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Attorney General Sean D. Reyes joined 30 other attorneys general on Monday to announce the completion of a $1.37 billion settlement with Kroger over the supermarket chain’s role in the opioid crisis. As part of the settlement, Utah will receive $45 million to combat opioids. These payments are expected to begin next year.

Kroger does business in Utah under the name Smith’s Food and Drug.

“It is my duty and honor as Utah Attorney General to defend our communities against countless threats, including death and carnage caused by the abuse of opioids,” Attorney General Reyes said of the settlement. AG’s Office has helped provide leadership across America and now has more than $500 million in settlement funds. These dollars will help free many trapped in the cycle of addiction and prevent a new generation of Utahns from ever becoming dependent on opioids in the first place.”

Utah Attorney General Reyes filed the lawsuit in state court in 2022, alleging that Kroger was the largest pharmacy buyer and dispenser of opioids in Utah from 2006 to 2014. The company reportedly purchased and dispensed more than 140 million dosage units of oxycodone and hydrocodone during that period. time frame only. That accounts for more than 15% of the volume of these specific medications statewide.

Despite this massive amount of opioids distributed in Utah, the state alleged that Kroger implemented policies that awarded bonuses and other benefits to pharmacists based on the number and rate of prescriptions, including prescriptions for controlled substances.

Under the approval of the Utah State Legislature, opioid litigation funds are shared with counties and directed toward initiatives surrounding opioid use disorder treatment, recovery, comprehensive necessary services, prevention, and criminal justice to increase access to recovery for individuals experiencing suffer from addiction and to prevent individuals from developing an addiction to opioids in the future.