Filed in Boone Circuit Court, the lawsuit alleges Walgreens partook in deceptive business practices by “excessively distributing and dispensing opioids in Kentucky and for failing to legally report to state and federal authorities the suspiciously large orders it received for prescription opioids,” according to Mr. Beshear.
“At the store level, upon information and belief, Walgreens dispensed opioids at such an alarming rate and volume that there could be no legitimate medical purpose associated to their use,” according to the 66-page complaint.
Walgreens’ distribution and dispensing of opioids at 70 stores statewide contributed to increasing opioid-related misuse, overdoses and deaths in Kentucky, according to Mr. Beshear.
Walgreens declined NPR‘s request for comment on the lawsuit, citing pending litigation.
More articles on opioids:
Study: New York physicians received $3.5M from opioid makers between 2013-15
Viewpoint: The one step Trump should take to ease the opioid epidemic
New Jersey Hospital Association invests $1.5M in opioid monitoring tool
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