North Carolina Gets $40M in Kroger Opioid Settlement
North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein and 30 other state attorneys general have finalized a $1.37 billion settlement with grocery chain Kroger – parent company of Harris Teeter – regarding its pharmacies’ role in the opioid epidemic. The settlement includes a commitment from Kroger to improve monitoring and reporting of opioid prescriptions.
The agreement, reached through negotiations led by Stein and the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Illinois, Oregon, Tennessee, and Virginia, will direct $40 million to North Carolina for opioid prevention and treatment efforts, with payments expected to begin early next year.
“Working to hold accountable the companies that created and fueled the opioid crisis in North Carolina has been a top priority,” Stein said. “And we are winning. These funds will help people stay alive, get treatment, and begin recovery. We are also forcing these companies to change their behavior so more people don’t get addicted to these deadly drugs.”
Beyond financial commitments, Kroger has agreed to injunctive relief, requiring pharmacies to identify and report suspicious opioid prescription activity. Kroger operates stores under various names, including Harris Teeter in North Carolina and other brands across the U.S.
Stein, currently a candidate for governor, has now secured more than $1.4 billion for opioid abatement efforts in North Carolina. Local governments will receive $1.2 billion, with spending monitored through the state’s Community Opioid Resources Engine (CORE-NC), which provides public access to data on opioid fund usage across communities.
Contact Southpoint Access Editor and Publisher Wes Platt at southpointaccessnews@gmail.com or 407-616-1346.
