Montgomery, AL – Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, along with a bipartisan coalition of 30 state attorneys general, has announced the completion of a $1.37 billion settlement with Kroger, aiming to address the grocery chain’s role in the national opioid crisis. Under the settlement, Alabama is set to receive up to approximately $19.8 million to aid opioid abatement efforts across the state, with the initial payments expected to begin early next year.
“Alabama has taken a bold path to address the opioid crisis that is devastating communities around the state, and today’s announcement reaffirms our ongoing commitment to address this epidemic,” Attorney General Marshall stated. “As these funds begin to flow into the state, my office remains steadfast in our commitment to ensuring accountability and directing these resources toward urgently needed support for communities affected by addiction.”
Beyond the financial settlement, Kroger has agreed to specific injunctive measures requiring its pharmacies to monitor, report, and share data on suspicious opioid prescription activity. These requirements are intended to help curb the misuse of opioids and strengthen oversight within Kroger’s pharmacy operations. Kroger operates 11 stores across Alabama under its own name and through its subsidiaries, which include brands like Harris Teeter, Dillons, Fred Meyer, and Ralphs, among others.
The Kroger settlement marks another step in Alabama’s ongoing efforts to address the opioid epidemic and to hold accountable entities associated with the crisis. Attorney General Marshall has been instrumental in securing over $730 million in previous settlements from drug manufacturers and other companies implicated in the opioid crisis. In a letter last year to local Alabama officials, Marshall emphasized the importance of responsibly allocating these funds, warning that improper use could jeopardize the state’s access to future settlement payments.
The newly acquired funds from the Kroger settlement will be directed toward programs and resources aimed at opioid prevention, treatment, and recovery across Alabama, reinforcing the state’s strategy to tackle the ongoing public health crisis.
