COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Cobb County Commissioners voted to enter a settlement in an opioid litigation case on Tuesday.
The Board of Commissioners voted 4 to 1 to approve the resolution authorizing Cobb County to settle in the case with Kroger.
Kroger is expected to pay $1.2 billion to states and local governments over the next 11 years. The county attorney, Bill Rowling, told commissioners the exact amount of money coming into the state will depend on how many entities opt in.
The Cobb County Board of Commissioners started pursuing litigation against manufacturers, distributors and retailers of prescription opioids in 2018, joining more than 2,000 plaintiffs in national multi-district opioid litigation, county attorney, Bill Rowling told commissioners.
In 2021-2023, Rowling reported the Board of Commissioners approved a number of settlements, with some of the largest pharmacy chains in the United States, along with some of the biggest opioid manufacturers and distributors.
Rowling said the Cobb County Abatement Council, established in April 2024, is currently working on a strategy for how to best use settlement funds to address opioid use in the community.
Cobb County reported, as of June, it had $5.2 million in the opioid settlement.
“We're very fortunate to see actions take place nationally that have brought attention to this and are bringing resources back to the county so that we can better address how this is impacting and impairing the lives of so many here within Cobb County,” said Chairwoman Lisa Cupid.
The Georgia Department of Public Health reports in 2017, Cobb County had the highest number of opioid deaths of any Georgia County, with 126 deaths in the county.