DOJ Takes Action Against Walgreens

The United States Department of Justice has initiated a nationwide lawsuit against Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc., Walgreens Co., and its subsidiaries. The lawsuit accuses the pharmacy chain of knowingly dispensing millions of prescriptions that lacked a legitimate medical purpose.

Details of the Allegations

From August 2012 to the present, Walgreens is alleged to have filled prescriptions for dangerous and excessive quantities of opioids, along with a combination of drugs known as the "trinity"—an opioid, a benzodiazepine, and a muscle relaxant. The company is also accused of systematically pressuring its pharmacists to fill prescriptions quickly, without adequate time to verify their legitimacy.

Statements from DEA

"Walgreens and its pharmacists have an obligation to ensure that every prescription they fill is legitimate and issued responsibly. As this lawsuit alleges, Walgreens failed in this obligation, and many times ignored the red flags that warned of suspicious prescribing practices," said George Papadopoulos, Principal Deputy Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).