Georgia, South Carolina to get millions from Kroger in opioid deal

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Attorney General Chris Carr says the state of Georgia will receive more than $55 million to expand access to opioid treatment, prevention and recovery services.

South Carolina, meanwhile, will receive about $18 million for opioid abatement, with payments anticipated to begin early next year.

This is part of a recently finalized agreement with Kroger, which totals $1.37 billion overall and includes a bipartisan coalition of 30 states.

“We’re fighting this battle on multiple fronts by declaring war on fentanyl and holding accountable those who have contributed to this crisis in the first place,” Carr said.

The nationwide opioid epidemic started in the 1990s with increased opioid prescribing and opioid overdose deaths, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health.

The total number of deaths in Georgia increased by 302% from 2010 to 2022, the department says. The increases appeared to be driven by fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid often found in drugs such as cocaine, heroin and counterfeit pills.

“No amount of money can make up for the lives we’ve lost to the opioid crisis, but the money from this settlement, along with the other settlements we’ve announced, will go to treat people who are addicted to opioids,” South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson said. “We will continue to go after those responsible for the opioid crisis to hold them accountable.”

The deal, announced in September 2023, declared that Kroger Co. would pay up to $1.4 billion over 11 years.

In addition, Kroger has agreed to injunctive relief that requires its pharmacies to monitor, report, and share data about suspicious activity related to opioid prescriptions.

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