OLYMPIA, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Albertsons is being ordered to pay up for its role in fueling the opioid crisis in Washington.

A King County Superior Court judge ruled on Thursday, Nov. 5, that the company failed to prevent the misuse of opioids through their pharmacies following a nearly two-month trial.

Judge Janet Helson ordered Albertsons to pay the state $900 million, which will fund treatment and prevention resources to combat the opioid epidemic at the state and local levels.

“This is a victory for the people of Washington. When giant corporations put profits above safety, they will be held accountable,” Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown said in a news release. “This verdict can’t undo the devastating harms of the opioid crisis, but it will provide desperately needed resources to support treatment and prevent future crises.”

According to the AG’s office, Albertsons-owned pharmacies dispensed more than 641 million opioid pills into the state between 2006 and 2022. The state showed during the trial that the majority of those prescriptions had red flags that weren’t properly investigated.

It came as more than 26,000 state residents have died from an overdose since 1999, with 7,400 of those coming in the last three years.

Albertsons owns and operates more than 200 pharmacies in Washington, including under the Safeway and Haggen banners.

The company said in a statement that it disagrees with the court’s ruling and is reviewing the decision closely to consider an appeal.

“We are proud of our pharmacists and their dedication to the patients and communities they serve, and we will continue to support our customers and communities across Washington through responsible pharmacy operations,” Albertsons said in an emailed statement to My Bellingham Now.

The ruling follows a $100 million settlement the state reached with Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family in 2025 to settle similar allegations.

The AG’s office says it has recovered more than $2 billion in funding for state and local governments since the start of the opioid crisis.