The United States Justice Department has initiated legal proceedings against Walgreens by filing a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. This legal action accuses Walgreens pharmacists of having filled millions of prescriptions for controlled substances, allegedly lacking legitimate medical purpose or valid authorization. These accusations, tracing back to August 2012, present a significant legal challenge for one of the nation’s largest pharmacy chains. The full text of the lawsuit can be accessed here.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s civil division, commented on the lawsuit, stating, “This lawsuit seeks to hold Walgreens accountable for the many years that it failed to meet its obligations when dispensing dangerous opioids and other drugs.” Details of his statement are available here.
The complaint alleges that Walgreens played a role in exacerbating the opioid crisis by knowingly filling millions of unlawful prescriptions for controlled substances since 2012. These prescriptions reportedly included dangerous quantities of opioids, early refills, and the “trinity” combination, which is often abused. Despite warning signals and internal alerts, it is alleged that Walgreens prioritized speed over due diligence, pressuring pharmacists to fill prescriptions rapidly while withholding critical information about suspicious prescribers.
The government asserts that these actions breached both the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and the False Claims Act (FCA), particularly when federal health programs reimbursed unlawful prescriptions. The lawsuit seeks civil penalties of up to $80,850 per violation, alongside treble damages under the FCA, aiming to prevent future infractions. Acting U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual for the Northern District of Illinois further elaborated on these claims, emphasizing the laws’ importance in community protection. Further details on these remarks are available here.
Meanwhile, Walgreens, part of Walgreens Boots Alliance and operating over 8,000 locations, has responded to the legal action with a statement. The company expressed its intention to seek judicial clarification regarding the obligations of pharmacies and pharmacists. Walgreens contends that the government is trying to impose arbitrary rules that bypass official rulemaking processes. The company’s statement can be read here.
For additional context on the lawsuit, please visit the original reporting by JURIST here.