DOJ Accuses Walgreens of Fueling Opioid Crisis With Reckless Dispensing

Pharmacy chain Walgreens Boots Alliance is in some legal trouble with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). The agency is accusing the company and its subsidiaries of violating both the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and the False Claims Act (FCA).

In violation of CSA guidelines, Walgreens pharmacists allegedly dispensed controlled substances despite “red flags” that suggested the prescriptions were not medically necessary, invalid, or potentially illegal. Additionally, pharmacists were pressured into filling the prescriptions quickly, which did not allow time to verify a prescription’s validity. Due to a lack of shared information, pharmacists were purportedly unable to warn other pharmacists about possible questionable prescribers.

“These practices allowed millions of opioid pills and other controlled substances to flow illegally out of Walgreens stores,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, in a press release.

From 2012 to today, Walgreens reportedly filled prescriptions for an excessive amount of opioids. Pharmacists also allegedly filled a medication combination known as the “trinity” — a highly addictive mix of benzodiazepine, a muscle relaxant, and an opioid.

The pharmacy chain purportedly violated the FCA by asking for reimbursements related to the prescriptions from federal healthcare programs.

Walgreens Responds to DOJ Complaint

Walgreens plans to defend itself and its pharmacists. The drugstore chain is asking the court to block the DOJ’s attempt to impose subjective “‘rules’ that do not appear in any law or regulation.”

The medications filled by pharmacists were legitimate and FDA-approved, the company claims. The prescriptions were written by licensed providers and met all appropriate laws and regulations.

“We will not stand by and allow the government to put our pharmacists in a no-win situation, trying to comply with ‘rules’ that simply do not exist,” the pharmacy chain stated on its website. “We look forward to the opportunity to defend the professionalism and integrity of our pharmacists.”

In December 2024, the DOJ filed a lawsuit against CVS Pharmacy for filling illegal opioid prescriptions. Similar to Walgreens, the agency’s complaint also accused CVS of violating the CSA and FCA.

The DOJ contends Walgreens’ actions likely contributed to America’s opioid crisis, even allegedly causing patient overdoses shortly after filling a prescription. Walgreens faces civil penalties of $80,850 for each illicit prescription as well as treble damages. Additional fines related to FCA violations will also be imposed.