Walgreens Denies Liability, Claims Pharmacists Acted Responsibly
Despite agreeing to the settlement, Walgreens did not concede wrongdoing. In a statement issued Monday, company spokesperson Fraser Engerman said the pharmacy chain “strongly disagrees” with the government’s interpretation of the law and continues to stand by the integrity of its pharmacists.
“Our pharmacists are dedicated healthcare professionals who care deeply about patient safety,” Engerman stated, emphasizing the company’s commitment to educating patients and preventing misuse.
Walgreens also disclosed in a U.S. regulatory filing that it does not anticipate any future large-scale opioid-related lawsuits—a sign the company hopes this settlement might finally close the chapter on its opioid litigation exposure.
A Piece of the $50 Billion Puzzle
The Walgreens $300M settlement is a fresh link in a growing chain of accountability. In recent years, a broad coalition of pharmaceutical manufacturers, drug distributors, and major pharmacy chains have agreed to pay more than $50 billion to resolve thousands of lawsuits filed by states, cities, and counties across the country.
Walgreens itself is no stranger to these sweeping legal reckonings. In 2022, the company agreed to pay up to $5.52 billion over 15 years to settle thousands of opioid-related lawsuits from state and local governments—lawsuits that accused the company of fueling the deadly epidemic by failing to monitor and restrict the flood of opioid prescriptions.
