Pharmaceutical chains face first trial for US opioid epidemic

FILE PHOTO: A Walgreens business in Chicago, Illinois, Feb. 11, 2021. REUTERS / Eileen T. Meslar / File Photo

For Nate Raymond

Oct 4 (Reuters) – The first trial of four major pharmacy chains over America’s deadly opioid epidemic was scheduled to begin on Monday, when two Ohio counties will try to convince a jury that the companies are responsible for flooding their communities with addictive pain relievers.

Lake and Trumbull counties allege that failures in supervision at pharmacies run by Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc, CVS Health Corp, Walmart Inc and Giant Eagle Inc caused excessive amounts of opioid pills to flood their communities.

Attorneys for the counties and companies will deliver their opening statements to a federal jury in Cleveland, where thousands of similar lawsuits are pending against drug companies, drug distributors and pharmacies.

More than 3,300 cases have been filed primarily by state and local governments seeking to hold companies accountable for an epidemic of opioid abuse that, according to US government data, caused nearly 500,000 overdose deaths between 1999 and 2019.

Pharmaceutical operators deny wrongdoing. CVS said its pharmacies “fill legitimate prescriptions written by licensed physicians.”

Walgreens said it takes pride in the judgment of its pharmacists and Giant Eagle said pharmacy inspectors concluded it was complying with the law. Walmart did not respond to requests for comment.

If the jury decides that the companies are responsible, District Judge Dan Polster will determine how much they must pay to mitigate or address the health crisis in the communities. The magistrate urged the parties to reach an agreement.

(Edited in Spanish by Carlos Serrano)