Attorney General Dan Rayfield announced on April 20 that Oregon will receive up to $38.2 million over nine years as part of a $773 million agreement in principle with grocery chain Albertsons, which operates in the state as Albertsons and Safeway. The funds are intended to address the company’s role in the opioid epidemic and will be used for addiction treatment and recovery programs throughout Oregon.
Rayfield said, “Every dollar from this settlement is going toward helping Oregonians recover – treatment, services, and support for the families and communities hit hardest by this crisis.” He also said, “Oregon pharmacies have a legal and moral obligation to be part of the solution, not the problem.”
The agreement focuses on Albertsons’ actions as a pharmacy chain that dispensed opioids during what officials describe as the height of the crisis. While both sides have agreed on how much money will be paid out overall, negotiations continue regarding injunctive relief—future conduct changes that would govern how Albertsons runs its pharmacies.
Of the total national settlement amount, $655 million will go into an abatement fund designed for states and local governments to use for opioid recovery efforts. The settlement has not yet been finalized as both parties are still working out remaining terms.
The outcome of these ongoing negotiations may influence future agreements with other companies involved in dispensing opioids across different states.
