US accuses Walgreens of filling illegal prescriptions and ignoring red flags in opioid prescriptions
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has accused Walgreens Pharmacy of dispensing millions of prescriptions over the last decade without legitimate medical purpose.
A complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Deerfield District, Illinois, alleges that Walgreens employees filled prescriptions for controlled substances despite clear red flags suggesting they were likely illegal. According to the DOJ, Walgreens systematically pressured pharmacists to fill prescriptions without taking sufficient time to verify their validity.
In response, the popular pharmacy chain issued a statement expressing support for its pharmacists. Walgreens asserted that its pharmacists fill legitimate prescriptions for U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drugs issued by prescribers licensed by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
Not the only legal challenge
The lawsuit further accuses Walgreens of ignoring evidence, including reports from its own pharmacists and internal data, that its stores were dispensing illegal prescriptions. It also claims the company deprived pharmacists of critical information, such as the ability to warn others about certain prescribers.
“This lawsuit seeks to hold Walgreens accountable for the many years it failed to meet its obligations in dispensing dangerous opioids and other medications,” said Brian Boynton, Chief Deputy Assistant Attorney General and head of the DOJ’s Civil Division, in a statement. “These practices allowed millions of opioid pills and other controlled substances to illegally flow out of Walgreens stores.”
Brian Boynton, head of the DOJ's Civil Division - Photo: Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General
Brian Boynton - U.S. Departmen of Justice website
“We won’t stand idly by”
Walgreens stated that it is asking the court to clarify the responsibilities of pharmacies and pharmacists, while opposing what it describes as arbitrary “rules” the government is attempting to enforce.
“We won’t stand idly by and allow the government to put our pharmacists in a no-win situation, trying to comply with ‘rules’ that simply don’t exist,” Walgreens said in its statement. The company also emphasized its role as a leader in providing education, resources, and implementing best practices to combat opioid misuse.
Over the last eight years, drug manufacturers, wholesalers, and pharmacies have reached settlements with governments totaling approximately $50 billion, primarily aimed at addressing the opioid crisis.