Why Kentucky AG Sued Kroger Pharmacies for the State’s Opioid Crisis

 Why Kentucky AG Sued Kroger Pharmacies for the State’s Opioid Crisis

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman sued one of America’s largest grocery chains, Kroger Co., in February. Coleman alleged that Kroger Co.’s pharmacies propelled Kentucky’s devastating opioid addiction issues. Specifically, Coleman claimed that the firm’s over 100 outlets in the state were accountable for 11 percent of the opioid pills sold in the jurisdiction between 2006 and 2019. 

The lawsuit alleged that the outlets sold hundreds of millions of pills to Kentucky’s residents for more than ten years. They flooded state communities without adequate safeguards. Coleman claimed the pills led to addiction, pain, and death. 

The Focus of the Lawsuit

Russell Coleman filed his suit at Bullitt County Circuit Court in Shepherdsville. The suit seeks $2,000 civil penalties against Kroger for every alleged willful breach of the state’s Consumer Protection Act. 

Coleman’s lawsuit claimed that Kroger intentionally ignored implementing an effective monitoring initiative to hinder suspicious opioid orders. As a distributor and dispenser, the company had access to real-time data showing unusual prescribing trends. 

However, Kroger ignored these “red flags” as they did not attempt to report any suspicious prescriptions in the state between 2007 and 2014. Unfortunately, a brand that several households and families have trusted so much can willfully make such addictive and dangerous substances too accessible. Painfully, the company did not create a formal system or guidelines to inform the authorities about suspicious activities. 

According to Coleman’s suit, Kroger allegedly bought over four billion morphine milligrams equivalent of opioid pills into the state between 2006 and 2019. The doses were roughly equivalent to 444 million opioid pills. 

The suit also revealed that Kroger distributed about 194 million hydrocodone tablets to its over 100 outlets within 13 years. 

The Consequences of Overdose on the State

Kentucky is one of the worst hit of the United States overdose crisis. Unsurprisingly, numerous attorneys general from the state across political divides have aggressively pursued legal actions against offending firms. 

Both Democratic and Republican authorities in the state keep bashing firms producing or distributing opioid-based medication. For instance, Governor Andy Beshear of the Democratic Party aligns with Attorney General Coleman of the Republican Party (who assumed office in January) on the need to legally hold Kroger responsible. 

This legal war against a prominent brand in the Bluegrass State demonstrates authorities’ and stakeholders’ commitment to safeguarding residents’ lives. 

The Scary Data

According to a 2023 announcement by Governor Beshear, overdose killed more than 2,000 people in Kentucky in 2022. Although lower than 2021 stats, it highlights the persistently high rate of overdose fatalities across the United States. 

“Soaring use of fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, is the leading reason behind Kentucky’s scary high overdose death toll,” observed personal injury attorney Jimin Oh of Solution Now Law Firm.

Authorities at all levels must be proactive to curb these high overdose fatalities. The United States must prove to be a law-abiding country by subjecting all pharmacies to its laws. State authorities must liaise with the federal government to deal decisively with overdose and illegal drug intake issues. 

The statistics will keep rising if authorities only wait to react and engage in seemingly endless lawsuits. 

Final Thoughts

The medical industry is a rich sector; healthcare players have big supporters and have a team of well-paid attorneys who can engage in long-range legal battles. If you sustain harm due to prescription or overdose issues, it is risky to engage in the legal battle without a legal representative. 

It is like an individual fighting against a well-fortified institution. You must thoroughly understand the relevant local laws to stand a chance to win. Hence, it is advisable to engage a reputable local personal injury attorney who can square up with the defendant on your behalf.