Walgreens Contributed To Opioid Epidemic In San Francisco: Report

A federal judge concluded that Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc WBA contributed to the opioid epidemic in San Francisco through its sale of prescription drugs, and it failed to investigate suspicious opioid orders for nearly 15 years.
The fine amount will be determined in a later trial, Reuters reported.
U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer wrote that Walgreens' pharmacists filled several suspicious opioid prescriptions between 2006 - 2020, with pharmacists not given time, staffing, or resources to investigate red flags properly.
In 2018, San Francisco sued Walgreens over the opioid epidemic in the city, saying they created a "public nuisance."
Also Read: Allergan To End Around 3,000 Opioid Lawsuits With Over $2B In Settlement: Report.
A trial began in April, and all defendants except Walgreens reached settlements with the city before the court ruled. Walgreens said that it was disappointed with the ruling and intended to appeal.
"We never manufactured or marketed opioids, nor did we distribute them to the 'pill mills' and internet pharmacies that fueled this crisis," Walgreens spokesman Fraser Engerman said.
In a similar trial in Ohio counties, Walgreens and its co-defendants, CVS Health Inc CVS and Walmart Inc WMT were found liable for contributing to the opioid epidemic. The companies are awaiting a ruling from the Ohio court on the fine amount.
Price Action: WBA shares are down 0.25% at $39.80 premarket on the last check Thursday.