Walgreens class action alleges pharmacy chain filled invalid opioid prescriptions

Walgreens opioid prescriptions class action overview:

• Who: The United States government is suing Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc.
• Why: The government alleges Walgreens filled millions of invalid opioid prescriptions in violation of federal law.
• Where: The Walgreens class action was filed in Illinois federal court.

The United States government has filed a class action lawsuit against Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. alleging the pharmacy chain filled millions of invalid opioid prescriptions in violation of federal law.

The lawsuit was filed Jan. 16 in Illinois federal court and alleges Walgreens filled invalid prescriptions for controlled substances between Aug. 10, 2012, and today.

The U.S. government alleges Walgreens pharmacists filled millions of prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances that were not issued for a legitimate medical purpose or by a practitioner acting in the usual course of professional practice.

“In some particularly tragic instances, patients died after overdosing on opioids shortly after filling invalid prescriptions at Walgreens,” the Walgreens opioid prescriptions class action says.

The government also claims Walgreens sought reimbursement from federal healthcare programs for the illegally filled prescriptions, resulting in false claims being submitted to Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE and other programs.

Walgreens pressured pharmacists to fill prescriptions quickly, class action claims

The lawsuit alleges the pharmacy chain pressured its pharmacists to fill prescriptions quickly, without taking the time needed to confirm each the validity of each prescription.

Walgreens also knowingly deprived pharmacists of crucial information, such as warnings about practitioners known for regularly writing invalid opioid prescriptions, the government alleges.

The Walgreens opioid prescriptions class action claims Walgreens violated the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act and the False Claims Act.

The government is seeking civil penalties and other relief under the Controlled Substances Act and the False Claims Act, including damages and penalties for each false claim submitted to federal healthcare programs.

In 2023, West Virginia’s attorney general announced an $83 million deal with Walgreens to resolve claims it exacerbated the opioid epidemic in the state. 

What do you think about the allegations in this Walgreens class action lawsuit? Tell us in the comments.

The United States is represented by Brian M. Boynton, Burden H. Walker, Amanda N. Liskamm, Amy L. Deline, Donald R. Lorenzen, Nicole Frazer, Michael D. Granston, Jamie A. Yavelberg, Natalie A. Waites and Joshua R. Barron of the U.S. Department of Justice; Morris Pasqual and Valerie R. Raedy of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois; Roger B. Handberg, Lacy R. Harwell Jr. and Carolyn B. Tapie of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida; Erek L. Barron and Thomas F. Corcoran of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland; Carolyn Pokorny and Elliot M. Schachner of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York; and Maya D. Song and Clare P. Wuerker of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.

The Walgreens class action lawsuit is United States of America v. Walgreen Co. et al., Case No. 1:18-cv-05452, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

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