Justice Department Sues Walgreens for Role in Opioid Crisis

The Justice Department has initiated a civil lawsuit against Walgreens Boots Alliance, accusing the pharmacy chain of knowingly filling millions of illegitimate prescriptions for controlled substances, in breach of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, alleges that Walgreens also sought reimbursement from federal health care programs under the False Claims Act (FCA), thereby contributing to the opioid crisis. From August 2012 onward, Walgreens reportedly filled dubious prescriptions, including excessive opioids and early refills, while pressuring pharmacists to proceed despite signs of illegality and providing insufficient information to help them flag problematic prescribing patterns.

Opens on Justice Department