CITIZENS NEWS

Walgreens accused of ignoring red flags, contributing to opioid crisis in federal lawsuit

By isabelle // 2025-01-22

• The DOJ sued Walgreens for filling millions of unlawful opioid prescriptions, contributing to the opioid epidemic.
• Walgreens allegedly ignored "red flags" and pressured pharmacists to prioritize speed over due diligence.
• The lawsuit claims Walgreens ignored internal data and whistleblower warnings, violating the Controlled Substances Act and False Claims Act.
• The DOJ seeks civil penalties and damages, aiming to hold Walgreens accountable for its role in the crisis.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against Walgreens, alleging the pharmacy giant filled millions of unlawful opioid prescriptions and contributed to the nation’s devastating opioid epidemic. The civil complaint, announced on January 17, accuses Walgreens of violating the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and the False Claims Act (FCA) by dispensing prescriptions without a legitimate medical purpose and seeking reimbursement from federal health care programs. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, highlights systemic failures that allowed dangerous drugs to flood communities, exacerbating a crisis that has claimed nearly 727,000 lives since 1999. The DOJ’s complaint alleges that Walgreens pharmacists filled millions of prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances despite clear “red flags” indicating they were likely unlawful. According to the filing, Walgreens pressured pharmacists to prioritize speed over due diligence, limiting their ability to verify the legitimacy of prescriptions. “These practices allowed millions of opioid pills and other controlled substances to flow illegally out of Walgreens stores,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton in a statement. The lawsuit also claims that Walgreens ignored internal data and warnings from its own pharmacists, depriving them of crucial information to identify suspicious prescribers. Four whistleblowers, former Walgreens employees, brought the allegations to light under the False Claims Act, which allows private parties to sue on behalf of the government.

A pattern of corporate complicity

Walgreens is not alone in facing legal scrutiny for its role in the opioid crisis. The DOJ filed a similar lawsuit against CVS last month, accusing the pharmacy chain of filling excessive and early opioid prescriptions. In 2022, Walgreens agreed to pay up to $5.52 billion over 15 years to settle thousands of lawsuits by state and local governments alleging the company fueled the epidemic. Other major players in the pharmaceutical industry, including drug manufacturers and distributors, have collectively paid about $50 billion in settlements over the past few years. Despite these settlements, the opioid crisis continues to ravage communities across the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that opioid overdose deaths have surged, with synthetic opioids like fentanyl driving the increase. Critics argue that pharmacies and drug makers have prioritized profits over public health, enabling the widespread misuse of addictive painkillers. In response to the lawsuit, Walgreens has pushed back, claiming the government is enforcing “arbitrary” rules that lack a formal regulatory foundation. “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,” a Walgreens spokesperson said in a statement. The company also emphasized its commitment to combating opioid misuse, citing its implementation of “best-in-class policies and procedures.” However, the DOJ maintains that enforcement of the CSA and FCA is critical to safeguarding public health and protecting taxpayer-funded programs like Medicare from abuse. If found liable, Walgreens could face civil penalties of up to $80,850 per unlawful prescription under the CSA, as well as treble damages for prescriptions billed to federal programs in violation of the FCA.

A crisis with no easy fix

The opioid epidemic remains one of the most pressing public health challenges in the U.S., with no end in sight. While lawsuits like the one against Walgreens aim to hold corporations accountable, critics argue that more must be done to address the root causes of addiction and prevent future tragedies. For now, the DOJ’s lawsuit against Walgreens highlights the role pharmacies and drug makers have played in a crisis that has devastated countless lives. The outcome of this case could set a precedent for how the government holds corporations accountable for their role in the opioid epidemic. Sources for this article include: TheEpochTimes.com CBSNews.com CNN.com

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