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The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit accusing Walmart pharmacies of illegally dispensing controlled substances, thereby allegedly contributing to the opioid crisis.
The civil complaint, filed Tuesday in federal court in Delaware, accuses the company of “hundreds of thousands of violations of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA),” according to a Justice Department news release.
According to the release, if Walmart is found liable, the company could face penalties of up to $67,627 for each prescription illegally filled by Walmart pharmacies and $15,691 per each suspicious order that was not reported.
“Under the CSA, every participant in the supply chain bears responsibility for preventing the misuse of controlled substances,” the lawsuit states.
The Justice Department’s lawsuit says there are more than 5,000 Walmart pharmacies across the U.S., and, until 2018, the company “acted as a wholesale distributor of controlled substances for its own pharmacies.”
Therefore, the company had the responsibility of not only deciding whether to fill Walmart pharmacies’ wholesale orders, but also of whether to fill individual consumers’ prescriptions.
The Department of Justice’s Prescription Interdiction & Litigation (PIL) Task Force conducted a multiyear investigation that led to the lawsuit, according to the news release. Allegedly, Walmart pharmacies “knowingly filled thousands” of prescriptions for controlled substances that were not for legitimate medical use.
The complaint also alleges Walmart received “hundreds of thousands of suspicious orders” and failed to report them to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
“The opioid crisis has exacted a catastrophic human toll upon the residents of our district and upon our country,” Maria Chapa Lopez, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida, said in the Justice Department’s release. “National pharmacy chains must meet their legal obligations when dispensing and distributing these powerful medications. The filing of this complaint in collaboration with the Department of Justice and other United States Attorneys’ Offices demonstrates our firm commitment to enforcing these critical legal requirements.”
Recently, Purdue Pharma agreed to plead guilty to criminal charges for its role in the opioid crisis.
With its plea, the company admits it marketed opioids to doctors it suspected were writing illegal prescriptions, then lied to the DEA.
The plaintiffs in the Walmart lawsuit are seeking injunctive relief to “address and restrain” Walmart’s alleged violations. They also seek an award of the maximum civil penalties allowed by law and any further relief the Court deems appropriate.
What is your opinion of the Justice Department’s lawsuit? Do you think Walmart pharmacies share some responsibility for the opioid crisis? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.
The U.S. is represented by Jeffrey Bossert Clark, acting assistant attorney general, Civil Division; Daniel J. Feith, deputy assistant attorney general; and the District of Colorado, District of Delaware, Eastern District of North Carolina, Eastern District of New York and Middle District of Florida U.S. Attorney’s Offices.
The Department of Justice Walmart Opioids Lawsuit is U.S. v. Walmart Inc., et al., Case No. 1:20-cv-01744-UNA, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware.
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57 thoughts onWalmart Pharmacies Face DOJ Lawsuit for Filling Suspect Opioid Scripts
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Walmart called me numerus times- after i had just filled my script and said another one was ready. Many times i thought it was a mistake- cause i had already picked it up that week. But to my suprise. No it was another 30 day supply of pills. I wasnt goint to say HEY THIS IS A MISTAKE- i was already addicted. These bottles had no refills. Meaning my Dr had to gove me a script every month- then WALMART would make a mistake- mabey on purpose by the way im reading this. And give me not 1 but 2 refills for one script.
Add me please . I receive all meds from Walmart pharmacy
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Several times I was given my prescription before the date (30 day) as long as I paid the $1,000.00 for the prescription. Happened two times, 2 separate locations.
Add me please I know of a couple Drs I was seeing that put me on opiates as first choice and took them to Walmart had them filled.