This lawsuit, filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ), claims that Walgreens' actions have led to unnecessary fatalities and exacerbated the opioid crisis.
According to The Independent, the lawsuit was lodged in an Illinois federal court on Thursday. It alleges that from 2012 until now, Walgreens has knowingly filled millions of prescriptions for controlled substances that lacked a legitimate medical purpose. This claim, if proven, could have severe implications for the drugstore giant, which operates over 12,000 locations worldwide.
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Brian M. Boynton, Deputy Assistant Attorney General and head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, stated, “This lawsuit seeks to hold Walgreens accountable for the many years that it failed to meet its obligations when dispensing dangerous opioids and other drugs.” He further added, “These practices allowed millions of opioid pills and other controlled substances to flow illegally out of Walgreens stores.”
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The lawsuit suggests that Walgreens disregarded the concerns of its own pharmacists, internal data, and legal obligations related to prescribed controlled substances in its haste to fill orders. The civil complaint, initiated by a group of four whistleblowers, also alleges that Walgreens used specific metrics to pressure staff into rapidly filling prescriptions.
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The Justice Department highlighted some tragic instances where “patients died after overdosing on opioids shortly after filling unlawful prescriptions at Walgreens.” This statement underscores the gravity of the allegations against the drugstore chain.
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In response to these allegations, Walgreens issued a statement to CNBC, saying, “We will not stand by and allow the government to put our pharmacists in a no-win situation, trying to comply with ‘rules’ that simply do not exist.” The company further defended its pharmacists, describing them as dedicated healthcare professionals who serve their communities by filling legitimate prescriptions for FDA-approved medications written by DEA-licensed prescribers in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations.
This is not the first time Walgreens has faced legal action over its alleged role in the opioid crisis. In October, the city of Baltimore reached an $80 million settlement with the company, following a $110 million settlement reached by Philadelphia earlier in the year. In 2022, the state of Ohio won a $650 million judgement against Walgreens and other drug stores. However, a December ruling in an Ohio appeals court overturned the penalty, likely rendering it invalid.
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The outcome of this lawsuit could have far-reaching implications for Walgreens and other drugstore chains. It serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing battle against the opioid crisis and the need for responsible practices in the pharmaceutical industry.