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Oregon to get up to  million in new opioid deal with Kroger • Oregon Capital Chronicle
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Oregon to get up to $40 million in new opioid deal with Kroger • Oregon Capital Chronicle

Oregon will receive up to $40 million to fight and prevent drug addiction as part of a national opioid settlement with Kroger.

Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum announced the settlement Tuesday, which is part of a $1.37 billion national settlement with the grocery chain over the pharmacies’ alleged role in the opioid crisis. Thirty states are part of the agreement.

The settlement is the latest in a series of opioid settlements under Rosenblum’s tenure that will bring hundreds of millions into the state to fight the crisis. Over the past three years, the Oregon Department of Justice has entered into 10 settlements with pharmaceutical companies, manufacturers, distributors and chain pharmacies that will bring an estimated $645 million to Oregon communities to fight the opioid crisis.

The money helped efforts such as mobile teams that reach out to people with addiction, recovery centers and harm reduction, including naloxone kits that reverse overdoses and save lives.

Under the agreement, the company’s pharmacies are also required to monitor, report and share data on suspicious activity related to opioid prescriptions. Kroger owns stores under its name as well as subsidiaries that include Fred Meyer and QFC stores in Oregon.

“This settlement with one of Oregon’s pharmacy giants is a crucial step forward in rebuilding trust between Fred Meyer and its Oregon pharmacy customers,” Rosenblum said in a statement.

Rosenblum made the same announcement on the same day voters chose his successor, former Oregon House Speaker Dan Rayfield. Although Rosenblum leaves office, the state’s work with opioid settlement dollars will continue.

“The funds provided will help Oregon communities respond to and recover from the opioid crisis, although the damage done and lives lost cannot be undone,” Rosenblum said.

She also praised her team and David Hart, an assistant attorney in charge of opioid litigation and pharmaceutical recovery/fraud, for leading the negotiations.

On Wednesday, Hart spoke about the agreement with the Opioid Prevention, Treatment and Recovery Council, which handles the state’s share of the settlement funding.

Hart signaled that more money — and deals — are around the corner, with an “agreement in principle” reached but not finalized.

“There are still a bunch of other deals that I can’t talk about,” he said, adding that those pending deals will likely add about $10 million to Kroger’s $40 million.

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