DOJ Sues Walgreens Over Millions of Allegedly Illegal Opioid Prescriptions

The lawsuit accuses the pharmacy giant of violating federal laws by dispensing unlawful prescriptions and seeking federal reimbursements for them.

The Department of Justice alleges Walgreens knowingly filled millions of opioid prescriptions lacking legitimate medical purposes since 2012.
The lawsuit claims Walgreens violated the Controlled Substances Act and the False Claims Act by dispensing unlawful prescriptions and billing federal healthcare programs for them.
Walgreens pharmacists were allegedly pressured to prioritize speed over validation, ignoring red flags and internal warnings about suspicious prescriptions.
The DOJ asserts that Walgreens' practices contributed to the opioid crisis, with some patients reportedly overdosing shortly after filling unlawful prescriptions.
Walgreens denies the allegations, stating it stands by its pharmacists and is seeking court clarification on its legal responsibilities.