(Salt Lake City, UT) — A Utah judge is refusing to dismiss claims that several leading pharmacy chains helped make opioids a public health crisis by not doing enough to control access to those drugs. The Third District Court judge declined a request yesterday by Rite-Aid and Kroger to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the Utah Attorney General’s Office. The attorney general says the companies ignored signs that people were abusing opioids, including filling prescriptions for those traveling long distances and paying cash. The companies denied those claims, but the judge decided to let the case proceed to trial. Walgreens was also a target of the lawsuit, but that company is reportedly discussing a settlement.