Walgreens agrees to pay up to $350 million in major opioid settlement with Justice Department

The Justice Department on Monday announced that Walgreens has agreed to pay the federal government up to $350 million to settle its opioid cases, resolving allegations that it violated federal law on numerous occasions over the course of a decade.

The government's complaint, which was filed on January 16, accused the retailer of violating the Controlled Substances Act and the False Claims Act on numerous occasions between August 2012 and March 2023. 

Walgreens agreed to pay the federal government $300 million to resolve the allegations, and another $50 million if the company is sold, merged or transferred before fiscal year 2032. 

“Walgreens knowingly filled numerous invalid controlled-substances prescriptions that were either not issued in the usual course of professional practice, not for a legitimate medical purpose, or both,” the settlement states. 

“Walgreens knew that such prescriptions raised significant concerns and were highly likely to be invalid," it continues. "Walgreens nevertheless filled numerous such prescriptions without resolving the significant concerns those prescriptions raised."

The company told The Hill in a statement that it was not admitting any liability in the agreement, but the settlement allows them to close all outstanding opioid cases with federal, state, and local governments. 

Walgreens has also agreed to implement certain compliance measures for the next seven years that require pharmacists to confirm the validity of controlled substance prescriptions before filling them.

“Pharmacies have a legal responsibility to prescribe controlled substances in a safe and professional manner, not dispense dangerous drugs just for profit," Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. “This Department of Justice is committed to ending the opioid crisis and holding bad actors accountable for their failure to protect patients from addiction.”

The Justice Department has moved to dismiss the case.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.