DOJ sues Walgreens for allegedly filling millions of illegitimate prescriptions for opioids

By avagrace // 2025-01-21

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The Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Walgreens, accusing the pharmacy chain of knowingly filling millions of illegitimate opioid prescriptions over nearly a decade.
The lawsuit claims Walgreens violated the Controlled Substances Act by dispensing opioids and other controlled substances without proper scrutiny.
Walgreens pharmacists were reportedly pressured to ignore "clear red flags" in prescriptions and to prioritize profits over public safety in complying with questionable corporate practices.
If found guilty, Walgreens could be penalized up to $80,850 per unlawful prescription, potentially amounting to tens of billions of dollars in fines.

The Department of Justice has launched a lawsuit against pharmacy store chain Walgreens for allegedly knowingly filling millions of prescriptions that lacked a legitimate medical purpose. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, alleges that Walgreens violated the Controlled Substances Act by dispensing dangerous opioids and other controlled substances without proper scrutiny. The DOJ claims that Walgreens pharmacists filled prescriptions with "clear red flags," indicating they were likely unlawful, yet the company systematically pressured its staff to ignore these warning signs. (Related: Walgreens to close THOUSANDS more pharmacy stores due to rampant theft, collapsing economy under Biden.) At the heart of the case is the accusation that Walgreens prioritized speed and efficiency over patient safety. The company allegedly implemented policies that forced pharmacists to fill prescriptions within 15 minutes for customers waiting in-store, leaving little time to verify the legitimacy of the orders. Additionally, Walgreens reportedly tracked pharmacists who refused to fill controlled substance prescriptions, labelling them as "underperformers" and pressuring them to comply with questionable practices. The DOJ's complaint also highlights the devastating consequences of these alleged actions. Some patients who received invalid prescriptions from Walgreens died of overdoses shortly after. The lawsuit further claims that Walgreens ignored substantial evidence from its own pharmacists and internal data that illegal prescriptions were being filled.

If found guilty, Walgreens could end up owing tens of billions of dollars

If found liable, Walgreens could face staggering civil penalties of up to $80,850 for each unlawful prescription. With millions of prescriptions under scrutiny, the financial repercussions could be catastrophic for the pharmacy giant, which operates over 8,000 stores across the country. Walgreens, for its part, has pushed back against the allegations, arguing that the government is attempting to enforce arbitrary rules that do not exist in law or regulation. The company claims it is seeking clarification from the court on the responsibilities of pharmacies and pharmacists, emphasizing its commitment to combating opioid misuse and abuse. However, the DOJ's lawsuit paints a different picture, alleging that Walgreens' actions were not merely negligent but deliberate. The complaint accuses the company of creating a culture that prioritized customer service and profit margins over compliance and patient safety. By allegedly turning a blind eye to red flags and pressuring pharmacists to fill prescriptions quickly, Walgreens is accused of enabling the illegal distribution of opioids and other controlled substances. The lawsuit also sheds light on the broader opioid crisis, which has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives in the United States. The DOJ alleges that Walgreens dispensed dangerous combinations of drugs, including the so-called "trinity" of an opioid, a benzodiazepine and a muscle relaxant – a cocktail known for its high risk of overdose. Watch this report from financial expert John Willians discussing Walgreens' decision to shut down over 1,200 stores nationwide. This video is from the ThisIsJohnWilliams channel on Brighteon.com.

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If found guilty, Walgreens could end up owing tens of billions of dollars

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