Walmart accused of fueling opioid epidemic in Justice Department lawsuit
Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY
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The Justice Department accused Walmart Tuesday of contributing to the deadly opioid epidemic by filling thousands of invalid prescriptions and failing to report suspicious orders of opioids and other drugs placed by its pharmacies.
In its civil complaint, federal authorities allege "hundreds of thousands of violations" of the Controlled Substances Act, and are seeking billions of dollars in penalties.
"As one of the largest pharmacy chains and wholesale drug distributors in the country, Walmart had the responsibility and the means to help prevent the diversion of prescription opioids,” said Jeffrey Bossert Clark, the acting chief of Justice's Civil Division. “Instead, for years, it did the opposite ... This unlawful conduct contributed to the epidemic of opioid abuse throughout the United States."