A lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, accusing Walgreens pharmacists of filling prescriptions despite clear indications that they were likely unlawful.

The allegations against Walgreens include violations of the federal Controlled Substances Act and the False Claims Act, as the company reportedly sought reimbursement for these unlawful prescriptions from federal health care programs.

In the past decade, prescription pills were the leading cause of opioid-related deaths until illicit fentanyl became the predominant contributor.

The lawsuit aims to hold Walgreens accountable for practices that allegedly enabled the illegal dispensing of millions of opioid pills.

Federal prosecutors are increasingly focused on holding companies accountable for their roles in the U.S. opioid addiction and overdose crisis, which has resulted in over 80,000 deaths annually in recent years.

Walgreens asserts that it has been proactive in providing education and resources aimed at combating opioid misuse.

The company emphasizes its commitment to supporting pharmacists, stating it will not allow the government to place them in challenging positions regarding prescription fulfillment.

Since 2015, drugmakers, wholesalers, and pharmacies have collectively settled around $50 billion with governments to address the ongoing opioid crisis.

This lawsuit follows a similar case filed against CVS in December 2024, where CVS denied the allegations and contested the narrative presented in the complaint.

Walgreens operates over 8,000 locations across the U.S. and maintains that its pharmacists fill legitimate prescriptions in compliance with laws and regulations.

In light of the lawsuit, Walgreens is seeking court clarification on pharmacy responsibilities and opposing what it describes as arbitrary government rules that lack formal regulation.

The Department of Justice had previously initiated legal action against CVS, highlighting the broader scrutiny facing pharmacies in relation to opioid prescriptions.