Post by account_disabled on Feb 24, 2024 23:35:22 GMT -5
According to The Washington Post , a federal judge ordered three of the largest pharmacy chains in the US to pay $650.6 million to two Ohio counties for their responsibility in the opioid epidemic , a type of highly addictive painkillers. .
The ruling comes after a federal trial – the first of its kind – will point out that in the case of opioids, Walmart, CVS and Walgreens are responsible for the addiction crisis to these substances, after they would have dispensed the medications. without effective controls and procedures” to prevent abuse and resale of the pills.
The ruling is expected to set a precedent for other communities trying to hold pharmacies accountable for their role in this epidemic, so some providers are concerned about the unintended consequences of potential new restrictions on dispensaries.
Walmart opioid case
Opioid addiction crisis in the United States
According to data from the Centers for Disease Cell Phone Number List Control and Prevention (CDC), between 1999 and 2019, more than half a million people died from an opioid overdose. This figure represents 70% of the total deaths due to excess consumption.
However, the numbers appear to have increased in recent years, most significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, with this problem being especially visible in the United States.
«These companies are tearing the fabric of society.
Not only must they show remorse, they must show that they need to rectify what they have done. And they won't. So the judge is doing it.
Attorney who led the plaintiffs' trial team.
Federal law requires pharmacies to determine that prescriptions were issued for legitimate medical purposes before filling them. Plaintiff attorneys argued that retailers oversupplied blue-collar Ohio counties with more pills than could possibly have been needed. For example, from 2012 to 2016, pharmacies dispensed 61 million pills in Lake County, enough to supply 265 pills to every man, woman and child.
Pharmacy chains blame doctors for opioid addiction
Contrary to taking responsibility, pharmacies have pushed back against the counties' claims and instead blame doctors for overprescribing. In addition to indicating that they would appeal the decision, arguing that they did not contribute to pill factories and operated legally to treat patients who needed it.
"Plaintiffs' attorneys sued Walmart for big bucks, and this ruling follows a trial that was designed to favor the attorneys and was riddled with notable legal and factual errors. "We will appeal."
Walmart Inc.
For its part, CVS stated that it would appeal and described the current resolution as an incorrect application of the law. “Pharmacists fill legal prescriptions written by DEA-licensed physicians, legal substances approved by the FDA to treat real patients who need them.” Meanwhile, Walgreens has also stated its position on the matter: "We never manufacture or market opioids nor distribute them, internet pharmacies fueled this crisis."
Walmart, CVS and Walgreens Opioid Case: Measures
As part of the ruling, the companies will be subject to monitoring and reporting rules within 90 days to make sure they improve how they distribute opioids and spot red flags.
Retailers will be required to train staff on the dispensing of controlled substances, create a hotline through which patients and employees can report inappropriate sales of pain relievers, and designate a controlled substance compliance officer to review prescription validation processes. .
The measures aim to regulate the use of opioids whose substance became common in different pharmaceutical forms that facilitated their consumption. While the stage is being set for the Walmart, CVS and Walgreens opioid case to serve as an end to the public health crisis that the country is experiencing, according to the US National Institute on Drug Abuse ( NIDA ).
The ruling comes after a federal trial – the first of its kind – will point out that in the case of opioids, Walmart, CVS and Walgreens are responsible for the addiction crisis to these substances, after they would have dispensed the medications. without effective controls and procedures” to prevent abuse and resale of the pills.
The ruling is expected to set a precedent for other communities trying to hold pharmacies accountable for their role in this epidemic, so some providers are concerned about the unintended consequences of potential new restrictions on dispensaries.
Walmart opioid case
Opioid addiction crisis in the United States
According to data from the Centers for Disease Cell Phone Number List Control and Prevention (CDC), between 1999 and 2019, more than half a million people died from an opioid overdose. This figure represents 70% of the total deaths due to excess consumption.
However, the numbers appear to have increased in recent years, most significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, with this problem being especially visible in the United States.
«These companies are tearing the fabric of society.
Not only must they show remorse, they must show that they need to rectify what they have done. And they won't. So the judge is doing it.
Attorney who led the plaintiffs' trial team.
Federal law requires pharmacies to determine that prescriptions were issued for legitimate medical purposes before filling them. Plaintiff attorneys argued that retailers oversupplied blue-collar Ohio counties with more pills than could possibly have been needed. For example, from 2012 to 2016, pharmacies dispensed 61 million pills in Lake County, enough to supply 265 pills to every man, woman and child.
Pharmacy chains blame doctors for opioid addiction
Contrary to taking responsibility, pharmacies have pushed back against the counties' claims and instead blame doctors for overprescribing. In addition to indicating that they would appeal the decision, arguing that they did not contribute to pill factories and operated legally to treat patients who needed it.
"Plaintiffs' attorneys sued Walmart for big bucks, and this ruling follows a trial that was designed to favor the attorneys and was riddled with notable legal and factual errors. "We will appeal."
Walmart Inc.
For its part, CVS stated that it would appeal and described the current resolution as an incorrect application of the law. “Pharmacists fill legal prescriptions written by DEA-licensed physicians, legal substances approved by the FDA to treat real patients who need them.” Meanwhile, Walgreens has also stated its position on the matter: "We never manufacture or market opioids nor distribute them, internet pharmacies fueled this crisis."
Walmart, CVS and Walgreens Opioid Case: Measures
As part of the ruling, the companies will be subject to monitoring and reporting rules within 90 days to make sure they improve how they distribute opioids and spot red flags.
Retailers will be required to train staff on the dispensing of controlled substances, create a hotline through which patients and employees can report inappropriate sales of pain relievers, and designate a controlled substance compliance officer to review prescription validation processes. .
The measures aim to regulate the use of opioids whose substance became common in different pharmaceutical forms that facilitated their consumption. While the stage is being set for the Walmart, CVS and Walgreens opioid case to serve as an end to the public health crisis that the country is experiencing, according to the US National Institute on Drug Abuse ( NIDA ).
