DOJ Sues Walgreens Over Unlawful Opioid Prescription Claims

Federal Lawsuit Alleges Decade-long Violation of Controlled Substances Act

The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Walgreens on January 18, 2025, accusing the pharmacy chain of filling millions of unlawful opioid prescriptions since 2012. The case, filed in the Northern District of Illinois, stems from whistleblower actions by four former employees and alleges violations of both the Controlled Substances Act and False Claims Act. The lawsuit marks the second major legal action against a national pharmacy chain, following similar charges against CVS Pharmacy in December 2024.

5 Key Points

• Four former Walgreens employees initiated the case through whistleblower actions.
• The allegations cover prescription practices dating back to August 2012.
• Walgreens operates more than 8,000 pharmacies across the United States.
• The opioid epidemic has caused at least 500,000 overdose deaths nationwide.
• The DOJ filed a similar lawsuit against CVS Pharmacy in December 2024.

DOJ Details Systemic Failures in Pharmacy Oversight

The Justice Department’s lawsuit alleges Walgreens pharmacists systematically failed to verify the legitimacy of opioid prescriptions while facing internal pressure to fill prescriptions quickly. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton emphasized the company’s accountability, 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.” The company allegedly prevented pharmacists from warning colleagues about suspicious prescribers, creating a pattern of negligent oversight across its nationwide network.

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Walgreens Defends Pharmacists and Challenges DOJ Claims

Walgreens Boots Alliance strongly defended its practices, arguing that the government seeks to enforce arbitrary rules absent from existing 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 company stated. Walgreens emphasized its pharmacists’ role as healthcare professionals who follow established protocols when filling prescriptions from DEA-licensed prescribers.

Whistleblower Actions Reveal Internal Practices

Four former Walgreens employees initiated the legal proceedings through whistleblower actions, prompting the Justice Department’s investigation. DEA Principal Deputy Administrator George Papadopoulos highlighted the gravity of the allegations, noting, “Walgreens and its pharmacists have an obligation to ensure that every prescription they fill is legitimate and issued responsibly.” The lawsuit contends the company ignored evidence of unlawful prescriptions and actively hindered internal communication about suspicious prescribing patterns.