Walgreens, the retail chain of drugstores, is facing a bombshell lawsuit filed by the DOJ against it for allegedly filling "dangerous and excessive" opioid prescriptions over the last decade. According to the suit, Walgreens filled those prescriptions knowing full well they did not have a legitimate medical purpose, raising serious concerns about public health and safety.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. filed in the District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, alleges that Walgreens violated federal law, including the Controlled Substances Act and the False Claims Act. The complaint alleges that Walgreens' pharmacists routinely filled prescriptions for controlled substances that they knew were not for legitimate medical use. These actions allegedly enabled the unlawful distribution of millions of opioid pills and other controlled substances that contributed to the ongoing opioid crisis in the United States.
The announcement was made by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, chief of the Justice Department's Civil Division. "These practices permeated Walgreens' operation and allowed the illegal diversion of opioids and other controlled substances from its pharmacies, which substantially contributed to the opioid epidemic," he said in a statement.
Furthermore, the lawsuit claims that Walgreens applied undue pressure on its pharmacists to fill prescriptions without verifying their authenticity, which compromises pharmaceutical practices. The company has been accused of turning a blind eye to its obligation to verify that prescriptions were legitimate and complied with federal law.
The case was brought to light by four whistleblowers who used to work for Walgreens in different locations around the country. Their testimony describes a pattern of behavior that allegedly allowed dangerous drugs to be dispensed irresponsibly, putting countless individuals at risk.
Countering them, a statement was provided by Walgreens in which they explained, "We stand behind our pharmacists - dedicated healthcare professionals who serve the communities they work in. We are committed to filling legitimate prescriptions for FDA-approved medications prescribed by DEA-licensed professionals and acting in full accordance with all laws and regulations.
The lawsuit serves as a significant milestone in the unending fight against the opioid epidemic, as it holds major pharmacy chains accountable for their role in the widespread distribution of controlled substances.
- Walgreens lawsuit
- opioid prescriptions
- opioid crisis
- U.S. Department of Justice
- Controlled Substances Act
- federal regulations
- pharmacy chain legal issues
- whistleblowers
- prescription drug abuse