DRIPPING SPRINGS — Following executive session at its Dec. 3 meeting, Dripping Springs City Council unanimously voted to have the city participate in the opioid settlement agreement with Kroger.
As part of the ongoing efforts to address the opioid crisis, the city of Dripping Springs has the opportunity to join the settlement agreement reached with Kroger, which is one of the parties involved in nationwide opioid litigation. Texas has actively participated in such settlements through the Office of the Attorney General, with funding allocated to local governments under the Texas Opioid Abatement Fund Council’s oversight, according to city council agenda documents.
“What the litigation alleges is that there is a crisis in the United States and in Texas, where individuals are abusing opioids, which are painkillers, prescription painkillers. The pharmacies are being claimed to have dispensed them irresponsibly, ignoring information that maybe they shouldn't be dispensing them,” explained Dripping Springs City Attorney Laura Mueller. “And then, the argument for the manufacturers is that [they are] purposely trying to promote these drugs, even though they knew they were addictive and were going to cause problems. People have abused them [and] people have passed away from them.”
